Warming conditions also hold the potential to trigger avalanche conditions that are a risk to skiers, boarders, and hikers.

Local officials said the slide had not been forecast, although avalanche conditions were rated as hazardous.

When weather is inclement or avalanche conditions are elevated, one may end up skiing safer, gentler or heavily treed slopes.

Constant skier traffic effectively mashed down the subsequent layers of snow so that avalanche conditions would never be reached.

It would be almost impossible to predict avalanche conditions many miles behind enemy lines, making it impossible to intentionally target a slope at risk for avalanches.

Mr Cameron suggested he talk to someone in the Forestry Department - he said they'd probably know about avalanche conditions.

Instead, there are just more people heading out into avalanche conditions without enough avalanche awareness training.

It used to be that you might have several experiences, kind of getting used to the terrain, and along the way you would acquire skills for avalanche conditions.

So if people educate themselves and learn how to avoid avalanche conditions - and they can - we can diminish the danger significantly.

Check local avalanche conditions prior to departure.