Knowing the angle before you drop in

The problem

It's easy to judge a slope by how it looks — open, inviting, good snow — and never register the angle. Most slab avalanches release on slopes between 30° and 45°, a range that includes plenty of terrain that looks completely rideable.

Why it happens

The Avalanche Slope layer bands terrain from the elevation model's slope angle, centered on the critical range: 30–35°, 35–40°, 40–45°, 45–50°, and 50°+. Live mode adds a cross-check against today's bulletin.

How to check it in First Chair

Map layer

Hold to read the exact angle

Open this view in the app →

1. Turn on Avalanche Slope before picking a line

   It bands terrain by exactly the angle window most slab avalanches start in.

2. See where your run actually falls

   Check the bands against your intended line, not just how the slope looks from the lift or the base.

3. Point the lens at the slope ahead

   In Shoot/Compass mode, the same angle bands are drawn directly over the real terrain. Hold and drag your finger along the line to read the exact altitude, slope angle, and aspect at any point.

4. Use it as a prompt, not a verdict

   A slope in the flagged range deserves the bulletin, your training, and a second look — not an assumption either way.