ACCESS

Easy

• moderate to high levels of physical fitness

• limited uphill travel

• close proximity to ski lifts

• very close to populated areas and rescue/medical services

Difficult

• high levels of physical fitness required

• between 500 and 1000 meters of elevation gain

• accessible by ski lift

• rescue/medical services nearby

Remote

• very high levels of physical fitness/endurance required

• greater than 1000m of elevation gain

• no direct lift access

• several hours away from rescue; far from population centers and medical/emergency services

Very Remote

• extreme levels of physical fitness/endurance required

• several thousand meters of elevation gain and loss

• no lift access; very little infrastructure or resources available

• rescue impossible or nearly so

GRADE/EXPOSURE

Low

• slope angles less than 45 degrees

• minimal hazards/exposure: risk of avalanche

• fall risk: low to moderate

• risk of injury or death: low to moderate

Medium

• slope angles greater than 45 degrees

• manageable levels of hazard/exposure: rock fall, risk of avalanche

• fall risk: high

• risk of injury or death: moderate to high

High

• slope angles greater than 45 degrees

• high degrees of hazard/exposure: rock fall, ice fall and crevasse danger, high risk of avalanche

• fall risk: high

• risk of injury or death: high

Extreme

• slope angles greater than 50 degrees

• extreme levels of hazard/exposure: rock fall, ice fall and crevasse danger, high risk of avalanche, high risk of altitude sickness

• fall risk: extreme

• risk of injury or death: extreme

ELEVATION

Elevation is an important consideration for energy conservation, stamina, time on route, acclimatization, and altitude-related illness. A poorly acclimatized ski mountaineer can travel only half as quickly as one can at sea level. Illnesses associated with elevation tend to begin and grow more pronounced above 2000 meters, and are particularly acute at elevations of 5000 meters and higher. Do your research. Know your limits. Be conservative. Make sure you are sufficiently acclimatized for the objective.

ASPECT

Slope aspect is a critical component of hazard assessment in the alpine environment, affecting such things as snow stability, snow quality, temperature, and rock/ice fall. Do your research. Know what the dangers are. Be aware.

GLACIATED TERRAIN

Glaciated terrain presents an additional set of backcountry hazards that requires (but is not limited to) proficiency in the following skills: route finding and navigation on glaciers, roped glacier travel, crevasse fall rescue, and serac and ice fall hazard avoidance. Study and practice these techniques before venturing into glaciated terrain.