Avaluator
The Avaluator 2.0 is a new decesion making support tool from the CAA. It has two side, once for trip planning and one for slope assessment. This page simply reproduces the decision making model that the Avaluator uses. Data on this page comes from the Avaluator booklet.
The Avaluator 2.0 is available from MEC and other retailers for $10. It comes with a pocket sized reference card and an information booklet about how to apply the descision making model.
Contents
Trip Planning
The Public Avalanche Forecast danger rating and the ATES Terrain rating are combined on a simple table to assess the risk of the trip.
| Simple | Challenging | Complex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme | Not recommended | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| High | Extra Caution | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| Considerable | Normal caution | Extra Caution | Not recommended |
| Moderate | Normal caution | Normal caution | Extra Caution |
| Low | Normal caution | Normal caution | Extra Caution |
Slope Evaluation
This part consists of 10 questions - 6 questions on conditions and 4 questions on terrain characteristics. The scores in each category are added up and the risk rating is presented on a graph.
Avalanche Conditions Score
| Question | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Regional Danger Rating | Is the Public Avalanche Forecast danger rating considerable or higher? | +1 |
| Persistent Avalanche Problem | Is there a persistent or deep persistent slab problem in the snowpack? | +1 |
| Slab Avalanche | Are there signs of slab avalanches from today or yesterday? | +1 |
| Signs of Instability | Are there signs of snowpack instability including whumpfs shooting cracks or drum like sounds? | +1 |
| Recent Loading | Has there been loading within the past 48 hours including roughly 30cm of new snow or more, significant wind transport or rain? | +1 |
| Critical Warming | Has there been a recent rapid rise in temperature to near 0 C, or is the upper snowpack wet due to strong sun, above-freezing air temperatures or rain? | +1 |
Terrain Characteristic Score
| Question | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Slope Steepness | Is the slope between 30 and 35 degrees or steeper than 35 degrees? | +1 or +2 |
| Terrain Traps | Are there gullies, trees or cliffs that increase the consequences of being caught in an avalanche? | +1 |
| Slope Shape | Is the slope convex or unsupported? | +1 |
| Forest Density | Is the slope in the alpine, in a sparesly freed area or in open forest (cut-block, burn or wide-spaced glades)? | +1 |
Risk Rating
Use the terrain characteristics score (0-5) on the horizontal axis and the avalanche conditions score (0-6) on the vertical axis.
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Not recommended | Not recommended | Not recommended | Not recommended | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| 5 | Extra Caution | Extra Caution | Not recommended | Not recommended | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| 4 | Normal caution | Extra Caution | Extra Caution | Not recommended | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| 3 | Normal caution | Extra Caution | Extra Caution | Extra Caution | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| 2 | Normal caution | Extra Caution | Extra Caution | Extra Caution | Extra Caution | Not recommended |
| 1 | Normal caution | Normal caution | Extra Caution | Extra Caution | Extra Caution | Extra Caution |
| 0 | Normal caution | Normal caution | Normal caution | Normal caution | Normal caution | Extra Caution |
