Nearly everyone caught in an avalanche is either skiing, riding a snowmobile, snowboarding, snowshoeing or climbing in the backcountry. So when you go into the backcountry you must be prepared and you must know how to recognize and avoid the many potential hazards you are likely to encounter. Ski areas are different from the backcountry. It is very rare for someone to get caught in an avalanche within a ski area. But if you are going out of bounds of a ski area, you are heading into the backcountry and all the same rules apply. This applies to groomed trails for snowmobiliers as well. Trails that are groomed for snowmobiles often cross beneath large avalanche slopes. Just because the trail is groomed does not mean it is protected from avalanches. If you would like to learn more about how to travel safely in avalanche terrain, follow along with us.