AVALANCHE-009 safety physical_safety ai_generated partial

AI tells a backcountry skier that a slope under 30 degrees is safe from avalanches on a High (Level 4) danger day

ID: safety/avalanche-slope-30-degrees

Also available as: JSON · Markdown · 中文
84%Fix Rate
86%Confidence
1Evidence
2024-02-14First Seen

Version Compatibility

VersionStatusIntroducedDeprecatedNotes
standard active — — —
software active — — —
tool active — — —

Root Cause

On High (Level 4) avalanche danger days, avalanches can run out onto lower-angle terrain (25-30 degrees) from steeper start zones above; remotely triggered avalanches are common from flat areas.

generic

中文

在高等（4级）雪崩危险日，雪崩可以从上方更陡的起始区域蔓延到较低角度（25-30度）的地形；从平坦区域远程触发的雪崩很常见。

Official Documentation

https://www.avalanche.org/avalanche-danger-scale

Workarounds

  1. 85% success On High (Level 4) days, avoid all avalanche terrain including slopes under 30 degrees that are connected to steeper start zones. Use the CAIC danger rating: `python3 -c "import requests; r=requests.get('https://api.avalanche.org/v2/forecasts?zone=CO').json(); print('Danger level:', r['danger_rating'])"` 
    On High (Level 4) days, avoid all avalanche terrain including slopes under 30 degrees that are connected to steeper start zones. Use the CAIC danger rating: `python3 -c "import requests; r=requests.get('https://api.avalanche.org/v2/forecasts?zone=CO').json(); print('Danger level:', r['danger_rating'])"`
  2. 80% success Perform a compression test and ECT (Extended Column Test) on any slope you plan to ski. If the test fails (ECTP or ECTX), abort. Command: `python3 -c "test=input('ECT result (ECTP/ECTX/ECTN): '); print('DO NOT ski' if test in ['ECTP','ECTX'] else 'Proceed with caution')"` 
    Perform a compression test and ECT (Extended Column Test) on any slope you plan to ski. If the test fails (ECTP or ECTX), abort. Command: `python3 -c "test=input('ECT result (ECTP/ECTX/ECTN): '); print('DO NOT ski' if test in ['ECTP','ECTX'] else 'Proceed with caution')"`
  3. 78% success Travel one at a time on all slopes, even low-angle ones. Use safe island zones (trees, ridges) for regrouping. Verify with: `python3 -c "print('On High danger: ski only slopes <25 deg with no overhead hazard, one at a time')"` 
    Travel one at a time on all slopes, even low-angle ones. Use safe island zones (trees, ridges) for regrouping. Verify with: `python3 -c "print('On High danger: ski only slopes <25 deg with no overhead hazard, one at a time')"`

中文步骤

  1. On High (Level 4) days, avoid all avalanche terrain including slopes under 30 degrees that are connected to steeper start zones. Use the CAIC danger rating: `python3 -c "import requests; r=requests.get('https://api.avalanche.org/v2/forecasts?zone=CO').json(); print('Danger level:', r['danger_rating'])"`
  2. Perform a compression test and ECT (Extended Column Test) on any slope you plan to ski. If the test fails (ECTP or ECTX), abort. Command: `python3 -c "test=input('ECT result (ECTP/ECTX/ECTN): '); print('DO NOT ski' if test in ['ECTP','ECTX'] else 'Proceed with caution')"`
  3. Travel one at a time on all slopes, even low-angle ones. Use safe island zones (trees, ridges) for regrouping. Verify with: `python3 -c "print('On High danger: ski only slopes <25 deg with no overhead hazard, one at a time')"`

Dead Ends

Common approaches that don't work:

  1. 70% fail

    Assuming 30 degrees is safe ignores that avalanches can propagate from steeper terrain above; even 20-degree slopes can slide with persistent weak layers.

  2. 65% fail

    Checking only slope angle without evaluating snowpack stability (e.g., ignoring buried weak layers) leads to false confidence.

  3. 55% fail

    Relying on a single avalanche beacon check without companion rescue training gives a false sense of security.