The Art of Shralpinism by Jeremy Jones

Author:Jeremy Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mountaineers Books
Published: 2022-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

The Five Red Flags (and One More)

“It’s a good day to forget your boots,” I jokingly say after big storms. So many times I have rushed out as soon as a storm has cleared, only to assess the day, dig a snowpit, and become terrified of the avalanche situation. I should’ve just stayed home. Alaskan guide Jim Conway introduced me to the Five Red Flags. I now list them on my poles, jackets, packs—everywhere—because I can trace most of the mistakes I’ve made back to not respecting or paying attention to these red flags. They are visual clues that point to potential avalanche danger. Although they won’t help identify a consistent weak layer, I use these simple observation techniques more than anything else to judge possible avalanche conditions.

It starts from the second I wake up. When I look out the window on a powder day, I see my first red flag: new snow. If I see the trees outside sway in the wind, I now have two red flags: new snow and wind-transported snow. Seeing recent avalanche activity on the side of the road driving to the trailhead: three red flags. Watching cracks shoot off from my tips while skinning up or small slabs peel off as I bootpack: four. And any time the weather forecast shows a big temp change during the day, that’s a fifth flag. Often, even before I get to the trailhead, I use the red flags to help make decisions as to where I can safely go that day (or to not ride at all). As the red flags add up, my terrain plans continue to change. Digging a snowpit to analyze the snowpack is valuable, but taking note of red flags takes no time and provides tons of info, usually enough to make a decision.

The Five Red Flags + One More

New snow

Signs of recent avalanches

Collapsing or cracking in the snowpack

Rapid rise in temperature

Strong winds: blowing and drifting snow

Terrain selection

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