It’s been a heavy couple of weeks in the mountains. Honestly, if you’ve been scrolling through your feed lately, you’ve probably seen the headlines. Avalanche in the news isn't just a buzzword this season; it’s a reality that has already claimed lives across the French Alps, the Sierras, and the Cascades just in the first half of January 2026.
The snow looks incredible. It’s that deep, fluffy powder everyone dreams of. But underneath that "hero snow" lies a nasty structural problem that’s catching even experienced riders off guard.
What’s actually happening out there?
Basically, we had a very dry December in many parts of the world. That sounds like a bummer for skiing, but it’s actually worse for safety. When thin layers of snow sit in the cold for a long time, they turn into "facets"—basically tiny, ball-bearing-like ice crystals that don't stick to anything.
Then January hit.
Big storms dumped massive amounts of heavy snow on top of those weak little ball bearings. Now, you’ve basically got a heavy white mattress sitting on a layer of marbles. It doesn't take much to make the whole thing slide. On January 5, 2026, a 300-foot-wide slide near Truckee, California, tragically killed a 42-year-old snowmobiler from Oregon. Just a few days later, on January 9, two more people were lost near Longs Pass in Washington.
The French Alps are seeing a "Maximum Vigilance" phase
If you think it’s just a North American problem, look at the Savoie region in France. The reports coming out of Val d’Isère and Val Thorens are sobering. Between January 10 and 11, six people died in separate incidents.
The scary part? A few of these folks weren't even "extreme" backcountry explorers. Some were just a little bit off-piste—just outside the marked lines. In one instance, two skiers were located only because of their mobile phone signals, buried under 8 feet of snow. They didn't have beacons.
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It’s a classic trap. You see tracks, you think it’s safe, and you follow them. But snow is a fickle beast. One person can ski a slope and be fine; the tenth person hits a "sweet spot" in the slab, and the whole mountain breaks loose.
Why the "Moderate" danger rating is so deceptive
Forecasters like Brian Lazar from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) have been trying to hammer home a point: Moderate (Level 2) does not mean safe. In fact, a lot of accidents happen during "Moderate" or "Considerable" days. Why? Because when the danger is "Extreme," people stay home. When it’s "Moderate," the sun is out, the snow looks stable, and we let our guard down. But this year, the "persistent slab" problem means those slides are harder to trigger—but when they go, they go big and deep.
New tech is trying to bridge the gap
We are seeing some interesting gear hitting the market this winter to try and help. The big one everyone is talking about is the Safeback SBX.
Instead of just trying to keep you on top of the snow like an airbag, this thing is designed for when you’re already buried. It’s a system integrated into your pack that pumps air from the surrounding snowpack to your face, helping you breathe for up to 90 minutes. It doesn't replace a beacon, probe, and shovel, obviously. But it might give rescuers that extra hour they need to find you.
Then there are the new electronic airbags, like the BCA Float E2. These are great because they don't use canisters, so you can practice deploying them in your living room without spending $50 on a refill. Practice makes you faster. Speed saves lives.
How to stay alive this season
Look, nobody wants to be the next avalanche in the news story. If you’re heading out, you've got to be smarter than the snow.
- Check the forecast every single morning. Not just the weather, but the actual avalanche bulletin. Sites like Avalanche.org or the CAIC app are non-negotiable.
- Watch for the "Red Flags." If you see "whumpfing" (that hollow thud sound when you step on snow), shooting cracks, or recent slides on similar slopes, turn around. Just go home. The beer at the lodge is better than a burial.
- Avoid "Terrain Traps." Even a small slide is lethal if it pushes you into a creek bed or a group of trees.
- Get the training. An "Avalanche Aware" class is a start, but an AIARE 1 course is where you actually learn how to read the terrain.
The mountains aren't trying to kill you, but they really don't care if you're there or not. This January is proof that the snowpack has a long memory, and those weak layers from December are still waiting for a trigger.
What you should do right now
If you have a trip planned for the backcountry this weekend, your first move is to download the local avalanche center app and look at the "Trends" over the last week. Don't just look at today's number; look at what's been happening. If the danger has been "Considerable" for four days and just dropped to "Moderate," that weak layer is still there.
Check your beacon batteries. Make sure they’re above 70%. If they’re lower, swap them. And please, if you’re going anywhere near the sidecountry, make sure everyone in your group actually knows how to use their probe. Do a practice drill in the parking lot. It feels dorky until you actually need the skill.
Stay safe out there.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check Avalanche.org for your local daily advisory.
- Update your transceiver batteries and perform a range check.
- Sign up for an Avalanche Awareness clinic if you haven't had a refresher in over two years.