Use low risk travel techniques as soon as you leave the trailhead. Getting to the area you want to ride or ski is part of the challenge of backcountry travel. On your approach, use ridges and lower angle slopes. If you are traveling on a ridge, stay well back from cornices. Heavily treed slopes work well also, but remember: if the trees are spaced wide enough to ski, and the slope is steep enough, then it can slide.
Measure slope angles frequently both on your approach and on your descent.
Most slab avalanches occur on slopes between 30° and 45°, with the prime angle between 35° and 40°. A slope meter is an inexpensive and indispensible tool for backcountry travel.
Next Section: Gather Stability Info