Those backcountry visitors need to be informed of the dangers, says Paul Baugher, Crystal Mountain ski patrol director, who teaches avalanche safety at the Enumclaw-based Northwest Avalanche Institute. But avalanches that trap people are usually triggered by human action - a snowmobile, a ski, even a footstep. A snowpack exists in a precarious balance, Baugher explained. Under enough stress, it gives way. You're enough to tip the balance between stress and strength.
Avalanches occur one of two ways.
A slab avalanche consists of a massive snow section that fractures and slides in several large pieces. The steepness of the Cascades combined with heavy Northwest snowfall make the mountain range one of the most avalanche-prone in the country. The ski patrol intentionally sets off small avalanches under controlled situations at ski areas. Consequently, skiers and snowboarders who stay within ski area boundaries aren't likely to encounter avalanches, said John Merriwether, ski patrol director for Stevens Pass ski area. But in the unrestricted and unmonitored backcountry, travelers bear the risks.