Avalanches are a real hazard in Colorado's high country. Understanding the risks—and how we manage them—is part of being an informed backcountry visitor.
What Is an Avalanche?
An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a slope. They can be triggered by:
- Natural causes (wind, new snow, temperature changes)
- Human activity (skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling)
- Cornice collapses
Avalanche Terrain
Avalanches typically occur on:
- Slopes between 25-50 degrees
- Open bowls and gullies
- Areas with wind-loaded snow
- Terrain traps (cliffs, trees, rocks below)
How We Manage Risk
White Mountain Tours takes avalanche safety seriously:
Daily Assessment
- Check Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) forecasts
- Assess local conditions before tours
- Adjust routes based on current danger
- Cancel or modify tours when necessary
Route Selection
- Tours primarily use lower-angle terrain
- Avoid known avalanche paths
- Stay on established routes
- Guides know local terrain intimately
Guide Training
- All guides trained in avalanche awareness
- Regular refresher training
- Years of local experience
- Knowledge of specific terrain features
Avalanche Danger Ratings
The CAIC uses a 1-5 scale:
- 1 - Low: Generally safe conditions
- 2 - Moderate: Heightened conditions possible
- 3 - Considerable: Dangerous conditions likely
- 4 - High: Very dangerous conditions
- 5 - Extreme: Avoid backcountry travel
What Guests Should Know
- Trust your guide's decisions
- Stay on designated routes
- Don't venture away from the group
- Tours may be modified for safety
For Independent Riders
If you ride on your own in avalanche terrain:
- Take an avalanche safety course
- Carry beacon, shovel, and probe
- Know how to use rescue equipment
- Check forecasts daily
- Never ride alone in avalanche terrain
- Practice rescue scenarios
Resources
- CAIC: avalanche.state.co.us - Daily forecasts
- Avalanche Courses: AIARE certification
- Apps: CAIC app for mobile forecasts
Our Priority
Your safety is our top priority. We'd rather disappoint you with a cautious decision than put anyone at risk. If conditions require tour modifications or cancellations, we'll explain why and offer alternatives. For broader safety information including accident prevention, read our article on snowmobile accidents and safety practices.
Trail tours versus backcountry tours
Our standard trail tours operate exclusively in terrain that is rated low avalanche risk by both the Colorado Avalanche Information Center and our internal terrain assessment. The route stays below ridgelines, avoids slope angles that produce avalanches, and uses alpine areas only when conditions are documented stable. For trail-tour riders, no avalanche training is required — the route itself is the safety mitigation.
Backcountry-specific protocol
Backcountry and extreme tours operate in terrain that requires active avalanche awareness even on stable days. All participants get a beacon-shovel-probe pack and a rescue briefing. Guides hold AIARE Level 2 or equivalent certification and check daily forecasts before each tour. We cancel backcountry tours when local danger ratings exceed Considerable, regardless of bookings or pressure to deliver. This conservative posture means we cancel several days per season — always with a full refund or rebooking option.