Safety Glossary

Avalanche track – the path which an avalanche will follow as it accelerates down the mountain

Buttress - A defined rocky mass which stands away from the main mountainside

Couloir – the French word for corridor, referring to off-piste runs which branch off from resort ridges, characteristically steep, deep and very thin. Experts only!

Depth hoar – a course grainy form of snow crystal, the type of crystal is often the culprit of avalanches

Glacier – An immense field or stream of ice, formed in the region of perpetual snow, and moving slowly down a mountain slope or valley, as in the Alps, or over an extended area

Melt-freeze metamorphism – at 0° snow begins to melt and thawing increases the avalanche hazard in the short term while subsequent refreezing solidifies and strengthens the snow-pack

Peaks – the pointed summit of a mountain

Piste – a name given to a marked ski run or path, these tend to be very safe and highly patrolled areas which are pisted (machinery has been used to flatten snow and make the run smooth) vs. Off-piste – areas of the mountain which have not been marked off, characteristics include deeper snow, steeper terrain and fewer people.

Ridges – a long raised surface along the top of a mountain

Sastrugi – complex, fragile shapes of snow on top of a layer of snow that resembles sand dunes; they form parallel to the prevailing wind direction

Serac – a column of ice formed by intersecting crevasses on a glacier

Snow hole – a cave dug into the snow, often used for accommodation if the weather draws in and options are limited

Tree-line – edge of the habitat where trees are capable of growing. Often seen in mountain resorts where altitude and temperature restrict growth

Wind-slab - Snow which has been deposited by the wind and can create an avalanche danger. The type of snow within this slab varies due to weather conditions and can be soft or hard. Wind-slabs are often found on lee slopes.