This section includes a couple of weather hazards to be cautious of when planning a ski trip and while you're on your ski trip. At the end of each section, you will find a sub-section called "To Prepare", which outlines certain precautions that you could take to ensure a safe and exciting ski trip.

(UNUSUAL) TEMPERATURE

Cold Temperatures (<-10°C) can lead to hypothermia or frostbites, where windchill can make it feel even colder than the temperature claims to be.

Warm Temperatures (>5°C) can lead to dehydration, hyperthermia or heatstroke, even in the snow.

The most ideal temperatures for these snow activities fall within -8°C to 3°C. Always be sure to check the weather including where you're going and at what time of day, since it tends to be colder in the morning and warms up in the afternoon.

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To Prepare:

Dressing in layers can help you prepare for these unusual temperatures. Remember, your body also produces heat while you're partaking in these activities depending on how hard you're pushing yourself, so be prepared! Although you'll most likely be snowshoeing in the backcountry, it's better to have more layers than too few.

For Colder Temperatures (<-10°C), bring:

• • Warmer layering pieces
  • Wear gloves/mittens
  • Cover your head and neck with a scarf or balaclava
  • Keep your feet warm using thick socks or chemical warmers

If temperatures fall below -15°C, you may wanna reschedule your trip for another day!

For Warmer Temperatures (>5°C), be prepared to dress in minimal layers, such as:

• A long sleeve shirt
• Any type of non-cotton pants (since cotton holds moisture that could potentially freeze)
• In sunny weather, always apply SPF and stay hydrated

Unusual temperatures, both cold and warm, can lead to avalanches, which will be covered in the next section.

AVALANCHES

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An avalanche is a mass of snow moving quickly down a mountain due to unstable snowpacks, where stronger snow sits above weaker snow, or surface hoars, where a layer of snow becomes weaker as new snow falls on top of it. There are two types of avalanches that we should be concerned about:

1. Loose-snow Avalanches (sluffs) are made up of surface or near-surface snow that is not well bonded. Although it may not cause any structural damage or bury people, it could be dangerous if one is knocked off their feet and carried downhill into trees, cliffs, or terrain traps.

In cold weather temperatures, weak layers can form under layers of snow from storms, which could then lead to an avalanche. Warmer temperatures can lead to snowmelt, which is also a concern when it comes to wet sluff avalanches.

2. Slab Avalanches occur when the snow layer beneath the surface layer fails, and the layers above it break into pieces and slide downhill. These types of avalanches tend to be more destructive and could bury you, as they tend to be larger.

To Prepare:

Check weather conditions (more than once) before you leave! It would be best to check while you're planning your trip and 24 hours before leaving just to be sure. Refer to the 'Useful Links' tab for weather resources and safety warnings.

VISIBILITY

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Precipitation / Low-pressure systems (cyclones) can create a hazardous environment while you're in the mountains. Heavy snowfall and winds from cyclones can hinder your view by up to tens of meters, for a period of time. As the winds pick up, it could hinder your view by meters as well, so it may be a good idea to wear goggles to ensure that you can see where you're going! Skiiers could experience whiteouts from these scenarios, where you would only see white-ness in every direction you look.

Clouds and Fog via cold air pooling and temperature inversions could also affect your visibility when you're in the mountains. As you move along the mountain, you may find yourself skiing in the clouds, vice versa for low clouds (fog). At this point, your safety is limited to what you can feel with your feet.

Flat Light occurs when low-pressure systems, which means increasing high clouds that diffuses the light, making the ground appear more flat. Because of this, it may become difficult to tell whether slopes are going up or downhill, and could get caught in bumps, gullies, or moguls.

To Prepare:

While you're at a ski resort, there are usually markers, ropes, and signs that will mark off boundaries to ensure that you're in a safe area. Always be sure you can see these signs to avoid further hazards. Additionally, it may be helpful to bring safety equipment (flashlight, chemical warmers, etc.) and navigation tools (GPS, phone, maps compass).