Check everyone’s gear before starting. How many people are there in our group? Have any additional people joined your group? Before leaving, go over the day’s plan one more time and repeat the dos and don’ts for the tour.

Check that everyone has all the right gear and that it works properly.

Does everyone have the right avalanche safety gear ?

• • Transceiver
• • Shovel
• • Probe

Double check that all transceivers are functioning properly (conduct a Group Check). The goal is to make sure that everyone’s transceiver is working in both transmit and search modes.

Reassess the snowpack and weather conditions and, if necessary, adjust the level of risk (higher or lower) accordingly. Carefully observe the surrounding environment (close by and in the distance), looking for clues and red flags. Increased temperatures, rain, fresh snow, avalanches, wind, and a loaded snowpack are just a few of the clues to take into consideration.

Follow the planned route or make adjustments if needed based on the day’s conditions and the overall mood of the group. Follow the planned route using map tools, and sticking to low-angle slopes, knolls, or ridgelines.