YOU ARE HEADING INTO AVA L A NCHE TERRAIN A KNOW WHAT TYPE OF TERRAIN YOU ARE HEADING INTO FIND THE AVALANCHE TERRAIN RATINGS AVALANCHE TERRAIN RATINGS SIMPLE - Exposure to low angle or primarily forested Crater Lake Long Lake terrain. Some forest openings may involve the runout zones of infrequent avalanches. Klondike Gold Deep Lake Many options to reduce or eliminate exposure. Rush National Historic Park Lindeman Lake CHALLENGING Chilkoot Trail Exposure to well defined avalanche paths, National Historic Site of Canada starting zones or terrain traps; options exist to Taiya reduce or eliminate exposure with careful route Peak 1950m finding. Glacier travel is straightforward but crevasse hazard may exist. Fraser Bryant Lake Mount Peak COMPLEX Cleveland 1822m 1939m Exposure to multiple overlapping avalanche CANADA paths or large expanses of steep, open terrain; Feather UNITED STATES Peak 1788m multiple avalanche starting zones or terrain Notch traps below; minimal options to reduce Summit Creek Feather/Cleveland Hill exposure. Complicated glacier travel with 1320m Fraser Camp Pullout Summit Creek Log Cabin extensive crevasse bands or icefalls. Pullout Customs & Pullout Mountain South Klondike Highway 1717m Outhouse Hill Summit Lake Pullout White Pass Route Bernard Lake Log Cabin WHITE PASS Parking Lot This area is a part of the traditional territory of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation and the Taku River Tlingit First Nation. Klondike Gold Shallow Lake Maud Tutshi River Rush National Lake 2 YOU ARE HERE CUSTOMS Historic Park 1 Haines Whitehorse Junction PARKING GLACIER 2 1 ROAD PARK 3 8 Carcross BOUNDARY YUKON BRITISH COLUMBIA TRAIL ALASKA RAILROAD Skagway, AK Haines, AK BORDER BE OBSERVANT OF THE CURRENT AVALANCHE CONDITIONS B Are you prepared? ¨¨Have you told a responsible person your trip plans? CHECK YOUR ROUTE PLANNING DECISIONS ¨¨Is everyone in your group properly dressed and equipped with a transceiver, probe and shovel? 1 If you have knowledge of conditions, 2 Use the score card below to calculate the avalanche 3 Plot the resulting scores in this matrix to test your route ¨¨Do you have any backcountry knowledge or the Avaluator™ Slope Evaluation Tool (V. 2.0) conditions and terrain characteristics for your route. planning decision. avalanche awareness training? may be used as a check during your ¨¨For more information go to: decision making. www.yukonavalanche.ca Recreationists with only basic training and little slope evaluation slope evaluation avalanche conditions terrain characteristics Emergencies or no experience may be exposed to greater risk Regional Danger Rating: Slope Steepness: 6 NOT RECOMMENDED – Is the avalanche danger rating Is the slope steepness between 30 Conditions are primed for avalanche There is no cell phone coverage in the due to the uncertainty they will face in assessing “Considerable” or higher? +1 and 35 degrees? +1 accidents. Even careful decisions can White Pass area. Satellite phone coverage Persistent Avalanche Problem: Or 5 resultNOT in serious RECOMMENDED accidents. Backcountry travel under these conditions is not conditions. Talk to a local avalanche expert or Is there a persistent or deep persistent Is the slope steeper than 35 degrees? +2 can be adversely affected by vegetation slab problem in the snowpack? +1 recommended without professional–level Terrain Traps: safety systems and guidance. and topography in some locations. make conservative decisions. Slab Avalanches: Are there gullies, trees or cliffs that 4 Are there signs of slab avalanches increase the consequences of being The closest telephone is at Canada from today or yesterday? +1 caught in an avalanche? +1 Signs of Instability: EXTRA CAUTION – Accidents are Slope Shape: 3 frequent and are likely to occur with human Customs near Fraser Camp. Are there signs of snowpack instability Is the slope convex or unsupported? +1 EXTRA CAUTION including whumpfs, shooting cracks or or natural triggers. Advanced avalanche skills If you are heading out with no Knowledge drum-like sounds? +1 Forest Density: are recommended for safe backcountry travel Is the slope in the alpine, in a sparsely 2 under these conditions. Recent Loading: treed area or in open forest (cut-block, of conditions, it is recommended you stick Has there been loading within the past burn, wide-spaced glades)? +1 48 hours including roughly 30 cm of new snow or more, significant wind Terrain Characteristics Score: 1 CAUTION – These to ‘SIMPLE’ TERRAIN with limited exposure transport or rain? +1 conditions are appropriate for informed backcountry Critical Warming: Visit www.avalanche.ca for more information. to steep slopes, unless you have the skills Has there been a recent rapid rise in 0 travel in avalanche terrain. Always watch for isolated slabs and be especially temperature to near 0 C, or is the upper carefulCAUTION if the avalanche bulletin mentions deep or persistent instabilities. and background to evaluate conditions snowpack wet due to strong sun, above- freezing air temperatures or rain? +1 avalanche conditions score Anomalies in terrain and avalanche conditions may exist. 0 1 2 3 4 5 Warning: Mountain travel is dangerous–hazards exist. Spotting hazards and assessing their risk Avalanche Conditions Score: Users of the AVALUATORTM assume their own risk. is your responsibility. Decision guides like the Avaluator cannot eliminate these hazards, but will in the field. © 2010 Canadian Avalanche Centre terrain characteristics score help you understand and manage them. The Avaluator is no substitute for training, experience, and choosing skilled and responsible travel partners. Use the Avaluator and the information on this sign at your own risk. Travel the back country at your own risk. Terrain Assessment Map Warning: This map is illustrative only and should not be used to determine precise routes or location of features. The terrain ratings shown are an approximation and may assist with trip planning. Use the information provided on this map at your own risk..