Avalanche risk layer

Turning it on

• Open the layers menu Tap the layers button on the map, go to the Terrain tab and tap Slope angle. To turn it off, tap it again. A small number on the Terrain tab shows how many terrain layers are switched on.

Reading the colors

• The scale A legend card appears on the map with a scale running from 10° to 60° and over. Match any patch of color on the map to the scale to read its steepness.
• From green to purple The gentlest slopes are green, then the colors warm up through yellow and orange, into red and pink as the terrain gets steep. Purple marks the steepest ground on the map, 60° and over, such as cliffs and rock faces.
• Slope angle vs Avalanche risk Slope angle shows steepness in small steps, so you can read the angle of any slope. Avalanche risk groups the same angles into a few key bands, so you can see the important range at a glance.

Controls

• Opacity slider The slider is located at the top of the Terrain layers menu. Drag it down to fade the colors so you can see the satellite imagery or topo map underneath, or up to make the angles stand out.

What it's good for

• Choosing a line See where the steep pitches are and where the terrain eases off, so you can pick a line that suits your group and the day.
• Planning the approach Find the gentler ground to travel on, and spot where your route has to cross steeper slopes.
• Pairing with other layers Use it with Slope aspect, Avalanche risk and the Avalanche forecast overlay to build a fuller picture of any slope before you go.

Turning it on

• Open the layers menu Tap the layers button on the map, go to the Terrain tab and tap Slope aspect. To turn it off, tap it again.

Reading the colors

• The compass legend A compass appears in the bottom corner of the map. Each direction has its own color, for example blue means a slope faces north. Match any slope to the compass to see which way it faces.
• Sun and shade In the northern hemisphere, north-facing slopes get the least sun, so the snow often stays colder and drier for longer. South-facing slopes get the most sun and warm up faster, which can have big implications for avalanche safety. The colors blend between directions, so a slope facing between two directions shows a color in between.

Opacity

• Opacity slider The slider is located at the top of the Terrain layers menu. Drag it down to fade the colors so you can see the terrain underneath.

Tip: avalanche forecasts normally tell you which aspects to watch out for. Pair Slope aspect with the Avalanche forecast overlay and you can see exactly where those aspects are on the map. Knowing exactly what aspect you're skiing is an essential tool for finding the best snow on the mountain, and for checking it's safe.

Turning it on

• Open the layers menu Tap the layers button on the map to open the menu, then go to the Terrain tab and tap Avalanche risk. The map is shaded straight away, and a legend card appears at the bottom of the screen. Open the layers menu again and tap Avalanche risk to switch it off.

Reading the colors

• Green and yellow, 20° to 34° Green is gentler ground, below the angles where avalanches usually start. Yellow, from 30°, is getting steeper, and avalanches become possible here when conditions are very unstable.
• Red, 34° to 45° The key band to watch. These are the angles where avalanches most commonly happen, often called prime avalanche terrain. A warning triangle on the legend marks this range.
• Orange and purple, 45° and over Very steep ground, up to the steepest terrain on the map. Snow on slopes this steep tends to shed in smaller slabs and sluffs.

The info icon

• What the colors mean Tap the info icon on the legend card for an explanation of how the layer works, plus a diagram of what happens at each slope angle and a link to an article that goes deeper.

Opacity

• Opacity slider The slider is located at the top of the Terrain layers menu. Drag it down to fade the colors so you can see the satellite imagery or topo map underneath, or up to make the angles stand out.

Important: this layer only highlights the slope angles that avalanches typically form on. Real avalanche danger also depends on the snowpack, the weather and how the slope is triggered. It's for planning only and should never be relied on for critical safety decisions, so use it together with the Avalanche forecast overlay, and always rely on your own training and judgment.