Avalanche Safety

Bring an avalanche transceiver (beacon) with you!

NPS photo

Snow travel at Lassen Volcanic National Park requires entering avalanche terrain. Each year, avalanches claim more than 150 lives worldwide. Knowledge, information, and equipment are key to preventing and surviving avalanche accidents. Before you enter the winter wilderness, ensure that you have a solid understanding of avalanche awareness and carry avalanche/rescue equipment.

 

 

Avalanche Forecasts

There is no avalanche forecast for Lassen Volcanic National Park or the general Lassen area. Backcountry users are encouraged to use the park weather forecast, snow station measurements, and their own observations to evaluate risk.

• Southwest Entrance (6,700 ft): weather forecast | webcam
• Manzanita Lake Entrance (5,900 ft): weather forecast
• Lake Helen / Lower Lassen Peak Sensor Measurements

Forecasts from the following nearby areas may provide some information on regional conditions, but may not reflect conditions in the park.

• Mt. Shasta Avalanche Center
• Sierra Avalanche Center (Lake Tahoe area)
• Interactive map of Avalanche forecasts in the U.S.

 

Plan Your Route

The Southwest Area of Lassen Volcanic contains steep terrain with numerous hazards. The Southwest Avalanche Hazard Map below highlights avalanche-prone slopes and other hazards including hydrothermal features and rockfall areas. The following actions can help improve your safety in the backcountry:

• Choose the safest route for the conditions you observe. Avoid hazards and have alternatives ready.
• View winter routes in the Southwest Area or the Manzanita Lake Area.
• Note that distances take longer over snow-covered routes, even along the park highway.
• Travel with a partner and know your abilities.
• Tell someone where you are going and when you will return.

 

Avalanche Safety Gear

Snow Shovel

This is essential for testing snow conditions and quickly digging out victims. A snow shovel is also a critical tool for making snow shelters. Most have detachable or telescoping handles for easy packing. Aluminum blades are light yet strong.

Probe

This collapsible pole—similar to a tent pole—can be used to probe for buried avalanche victims by itself or during the pinpoint search with an avalanche transceiver. They are usually made of aluminum or carbon fiber for low weight and above-average strength.

Avalanche Transceiver (Beacon)

Worn on the body, this device emits a pulsed radio signal. If a person gets buried in an avalanche, other transceivers carried by the party pick up the signal emitted from under the snow. The device can only be located it if it is turned on and in transmit mode.

Beacon Check
This check helps backcountry users verify that their beacon is turned on and in transmit mode prior to heading out.

 

Avalanche equipment is available from multiple manufacturers. The items above are provided for example only.

Backcountry Access (BCA)

 

Be Avalanche Aware

Recognize Red Flags

• Recent Avalanches: If there are new avalanches, more are possible.
• Signs of Unstable Snow as You Travel: Listen for warning signs: cracking or collapsing snowpack, “whumpfing” sounds, and hollow drum-like sounds on hard snow.
• Heavy Snowfall or Rain in the Past 24 Hours: Significant snowfall or rain can make the snowpack unstable. Avalanches are often triggered the first clear day after a storm. Because it is sunny does not mean it is safe.
• Windblown Snow: Windblown snow loads leeward slopes, even when it is not snowing out.
• Significant Warming or Rapidly Increasing Temperatures: Warm temperatures can cause the snow to creep downhill and become less stable.
• Persistent Weak Layers: When these are buried in the snowpack, you may trigger an avalanche weeks after a storm or when no other red flags are present.

Identify Avalanche Terrain

Slope Angle

Avalanches are possible on any slope steeper than 30 degrees and as steep as 50 degrees. They occur most frequently on slopes 35 to 45 degrees. Avalanches may also occur on slopes of less than 30 degrees that are exposed to steeper terrain above.

Aspect

Which way does the slop face in relation to sun or wind? Cornices indicate prevailing wind direction and may be a sign the slope is being windloaded. Does the slope face the sun or is it in the shade?

Common Trigger Points

Avalanches may be triggered from flatter areas in the runout zone or along ridge crests. Watch for wind deposited snow; breakover or mid-slope steepening; areas ner rock outcrops; or shallow areas in the snowpack.

Terrain Traps

Watch for anything that increases the consequences of being caught in a slide, like cliffs, trees, and rocks. A flat transition or a gully means a deeper burial.

Frequent Avalanche Terrain

• Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway: Hazardous, steep side hills with icy conditions and numerous avalanche paths.Diamond Peak Area: History of avalanches; avoid it by using the Ranger Cutoff north of Windy Point.

• Ridge Lakes Area: History of avalanches in the area south of Ridge Lakes. There are steep windloaded slopes on the north side and steep, avalanche-prone slopes on all aspects of Mt. Diller.

• Lassen Peak: Steep slopes with various aspects. The safest way up is on the summer trail through the forested section, then on the southeast ridge to the summit.

• Brokeoff Mountain: Numerous avalanche paths and overhanging cornices on the summit.

• Loomis Peak: Avalanche cutes sluff off of Loomis Peak at the upper end of the Manzanita Creek Trail.

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Avalanche Terrain Map

 

 

Formal Avalanche Training

Some days are dangerous and some days are not. Learning about avalanches will help you decide when, where, and how to visit the backcountry. Even expert backcountry users refresh their avalanche training regularly to improve their safety.

Free Introductory Training

• Avalanche Awareness Tutorial on Avalanche.org
• Know Before You Go video from on KBYG.org
• Online Avalanche Awareness program from KBYG.org
• How to Read the Avalanche Forecast from Sierra Avalanche Center
• Avalanche Danger Scale video from National Avalanche Center
• Avalanche Problems Explained video from the National Avalanche Center

Find a Paid Course

Avalanche.org lists Access American Avalanche Association-endorsed course providers by state. Only a few course are offered in Lassen Volcanic National Park each year. Courses are more commonly available in the nearby Mount Shasta area and Lake Tahoe area, which includes Truckee, Donner Pass, and South Lake Tahoe.

 

Related Links

• 

  Know Before You Go (in the Snow!)

  Winter Safety

  Driving, exploring, weather and more - safety is paramount in enjoying a visit to Lassen in winter.

• 

  We See Planning in the Forecast

  Weather

  Find specific forecast information for different parts of the park and related links.

• 

  Southwest Area Winter Routes

  Explore snowshoeing / cross-country skiing routes in the southwest area.