Collecting information and evaluation of the avalanche hazard of a territory

The avalanche hazard evaluation must include all the above mentioned contributing factors. It requires knowledge about the terrain as well as about the weather conditions for a longer time. The evaluation of the present weather conditions is very important. But there is no such thing like one hundred percent safety. It is preferable to use different tests for avalanche hazard. There are a lot of signs which can predict avalanches. In order to get the necessary information we have to observe the snowpack. We have to pay attention especially to:

If there is a large quantity of snow on the trees that means that there was a snowfall at

a higher temperature. In this case we can see also broken branches. If there was a strong wind at the opposite side there will be white frost on the other side of the tree.

Already fallen small avalanches on their own show that there is a big avalanche danger on similar terrains.

A thick layer of white frost shows that there was a cold weather for a longer period of time. If few days ago there was also a wind, then the slopes may have unstable slabs on the leeward.
A thin layer of sleet and round crystals shows that it is possible the slopes to have accumulated larger quantity of this dangerous snow type.
Visible “waves” show that there was very strong wing previous days and it is possible that wind formed some slabs on the leeward.
Darker colour of the snow shows that snow pack is formed by small and broken crystals. Very often they are hard slabs.

Sinking in the snow while traveling means that there is no new snow or stable snow pack i.e. there is no stable connection between the crystals. These are preconditions for avalanches.

If the snow crunches when you step on it that means on the layer of the soft snow there probably is a slab. In case the slab isn’t very stable on steep slope it may cause an avalanche.
Sinking of the snow when you step on it means that there is a slab and a weak layer of snow crystals.
Cracking of the snow pack under your feet/ski and continuous cracking means that the slab isn’t stable. If the slab is thin that may not be very dangerous.