Originally Posted By: hikermor
People with a lot more snow experience than me recommend an avy shovel as essential gear in steep snow terrain - primarily to use for snow cave excavation and potential rescue, as well as digging down to water and other chores.


An avy shovel, avy beacons, probe poles, and the weekend or more of training in how to use them, and how to evaluate snow conditions. Oh, also having the local avalanche / snow conditions hot line on speed dial, and calling it every time before you go out the door - here in the PNW, home of our famous Cascade Concrete (TM), there are alot of times when conditions demand that you just stay home or avoid the avalanche chute routes. Without the whole package, you're tempting fate.