It's a given that snow-pros often talk in avalanche geek-speak, so it's no surprise you may ask yourself... what exactly does "Normal Caution" mean? Simply put, it means there's no specific avalanche problem to watch for, but we still need to be aware of our surroundings, be alert to changing weather conditions, and not let our guard down when we're in avalanche terrain. It also means we're carrying avalanche rescue gear, only exposing one person at a time to hazard when we're in avalanche terrain, and we're considering the consequences of triggering a slide, no matter how small, especially as we step up our big mountain terrain options.

Since mountain travel always offers some hazards, it's worth watching out for them and considering ways to limit exposure to that threat. In terms of avalanches... there could be a few shallow, thin wind drifts that formed earlier in the week and again overnight which may grow large enough to knock us off our feet. For today, look for and avoid smooth, rounded, or pillowy textures to the snow surface and pieces of snow that sound hollow like a drum. In addition, remember that big, open terrain above treeline offers very hard snow and most south facing slopes have a hard ice crust on them. The main hazard on these slopes for skis, boards, or a sled is an uncontrollable slide for life... and that means- sliding downhill and not being able to stop.