Beginning with an explanation of how mountain weather and various forms of snow affect avalanche hazard, Daffern moves on to cover the types of avalanches and how they are triggered. He offers skiers and climbers a variety of tests they can apply on the slopes to evaluate the safety of the terrain. With illustrative photographs and straightforward explanations, this guide provides winter sports enthusiasts with the tools they need to learn how to travel safely in the backcountry, and how to react if their party is caught in an avalanche.