Snow safety

A system of avalanche hazard forecasting was established in 1938 at Alta, Utah by the U.S. Forest Service, based on the snow research of the service. The objective was to provide snow rangers with a simple and logical method of forecasting critical avalanche hazard conditions and to develop protective measures. Hazard forecasting is a continuous process of observation of 10 avalanche factors, old snow depth and surface, new snow depth, type and density, rate of snowfall, wind force and direction, temperature developments and snow settlement. These factors are variables which operate singly and in combination, and may even have a simultaneous plus and minus effect. It is possible that some of the Alta techniques can be used by snow surveyors.