Avoid avalanche prone slopes and runouts. Shooting Cracks Shooting cracks in the snow indicate that you can trigger slab avalanches. Recent Wind Loading Wind loaded snow forms slabs. Evidence of wind loading includes cornices, smooth pillows of snow and drift patterns. A rapid prolonged rise in temperature, particularly above freezing, may cause avalanches as the snow weakens.
Most avalanches occur during or soon after periods of prolonged or heavy snowfall.
Coastal, Columbia and Rocky Mountain snowpacks and weather conditions vary greatly. World Web Technologies Inc.