[MUSIC] Last time, we started the conversation about winter hazard and this tech tip will expand on this topic. Avalanches are the biggest hazards associated with winter mountain travels. Through this lesson, you've learned the anatomy of avalanches, now I'd like to tell you how to best avoid them. There are five key things to remember, to stack the odds in your favor, if you're in avalanche terrain. Get the gear, get the training, get the forecast, get the picture and get out of harm’s way. Let's break each of these concepts down. Get the gear. Everyone heading into avalanche terrain needs to carry a full complement of rescue gear. This includes, an avalanche transceiver, a probe and a shovel as an absolute minimum. In the event of a burial, the transceiver gets you close to the victim, the probe finds them and the shovel is what gets them out. There's now strong evidence to support the value of avalanche airbag backpacks in reducing the chance of burial. And wearing a helmet will protect your head from trauma if you're caught. Get the training. Carrying rescue gear lacks effectiveness if you don't know how to use it. Taking an avalanche skills training course will not only give you the basic skills to use the gear properly, but you'll also learn about what terrain to seek out and what to avoid. Take a course and then practice what you've learned. Get the forecast. Many of the popular areas for winter recreation have an avalanche forecast for the region. Public avalanche forecasters are the pros, they do their utmost to provide you with the best possible info about what you may encounter on your adventure. Get the picture. Be aware, eyes open, ears perked trying to see, hear and feel what the mountains are telling us. Look for recent avalanches, listen for cracking or woomphing that's taking place around you. These signs indicate of the failure of weak layers in the snowpack. Be aware of recent storm snow, wind loading, or signs of rapid thawing. The mountains often give us clues that foreshadow the potential hazards we may be exposed to, so make sure you're open to the information. At the most basic level, be aware of terrain steepness. Remember that avalanches predominately occur on slopes over 30 degrees. Get out of harm's way. Make sound travel decisions while you're out in avalanche terrain. It's best to avoid suspect slopes and terrain to begin with. Don't regroup in avalanche paths or run out zones. The less time you spend exposed, the better. Avalanche safety can seem overwhelming to new winter travelers, but by breaking things down into more manageable components, it's easier to wrap your head around. With some training and practice, winter can be a spectacular time to explore the mountains. [MUSIC]