The onX Backcountry navigation and discovery app for outdoor enthusiasts launched a new mapping tool in response to recent data from Snowsports Industries of America data.
The Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) is designed to classify terrain based on exposure to avalanches in order to help backcountry skiers, snowboarders, fat bikers, nordic skiers, snowshoers and other enthusiasts to make more informed decisions regarding avalanche safety in the mountains.
Snowsports Industries of America’s 2022-23 participation report revealed that close to five million backcountry skiers and boarders are heading into the mountains, marking a two-fold increase compared to pre-pandemic years. Additionally, participation in fat biking, nordic skiing and snowshoeing have also hit record levels. The report called access to snow safety information for new entrants and seasoned adventurers “crucial” for safety. To access this information, they turn to daily avalanche forecasts issued by the professional avalanche community to understand the day’s avalanche hazard and how to minimize their risk.
“The daily avalanche forecast considers numerous important variables, such as temperature, snowfall, slope aspect, and elevation,” said onX Backcountry Product Manager Charlie Avis. “Some of these variables change daily or even by the hour. But there is one variable that will likely remain the same throughout the season: terrain. That is where ATES comes in–helping a skier or snowboarder understand whether the terrain where they plan to ski or board could expose them to an avalanche, regardless if the daily avalanche forecast is low, moderate, considerable, or even extreme.”
Originally pioneered and developed by Parks Canada in 2003, ATES is a classification that assesses 11 different terrain inputs, including slope angle, starting zones, runout zones, forest density and more. By working in tandem with Alaska-based researcher John Sykes, onX is bringing ATES in a digital format to the United States for the first time. Sykes’ algorithm (autoATES) analyzes terrain in popular winter regions in onX Backcountry.
To refine that algorithm, onX works with local avalanche forecasters to localize and verify ATES ratings, leveraging their local knowledge, expertise and historical avalanche data. This human input is critical to ensure the layer’s accuracy. onX also partnered with American Avalanche Association (A3), American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) and the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) to ensure that ATES is a useful and valuable tool for the backcountry ski and snowboard audience.
“ATES is an important tool for all winter enthusiasts,” said Utah Avalanche Center’s Director of Forecasting, Mark Staples. “Taken together with the daily avalanche forecast, ATES can help the public–whether they’re a beginner or a professional–better understand how to reduce their overall risk, have an incredible time in the mountains, and get home to their friends and family at the end of the day.”
“onX Backcountry’s introduction of ATES, and its additional Avalanche Runout and Avalanche Potential Release Area layers, have the potential to greatly improve users’ risk management and backcountry navigation,” said American Avalanche Association Executive Director, Jayne Nolan. “It’s clear that onX is committed to providing innovation and improvement within the avalanche industry, cementing themselves as a leader within the digital mapping space.”
ATES is a layer in onX Backcountry’s robust Snow Mode that users can toggle on or off. It shows four different colors for four different ratings. Those ratings are: simple (green), challenging (blue), complex (black) and extreme (red). With this tool, users can connect the terrain to the daily avalanche forecast and confidently plan their adventure.
Because ATES is the result of 11 different inputs, some enthusiasts may enjoy seeing a few of those individually. To aid this understanding, onX has added an Avalanche Run Out layer and Avalanche Potential Release Area layer to Snow Mode for further exploration. App users can also toggle on other layers like the Daily Avalanche Forecast, Slope Aspect and Slope Angle, and access the weather forecast and SNOTEL data to expand their understanding of snow safety.
Current ATES coverage areas in the onX Backcountry app include zones in Colorado, Montana and Utah. Coverage in additional regions will be added later this season, including Washington, California, Wyoming, and Alaska, as well as expanded regions in Colorado and Montana.
“ATES doesn’t tell you where to go,” says Beacon Guidebook founder and onX Backcountry Senior Content Manager, Andy Sovik. “Winter outdoor enthusiasts still need to do the work to connect the forecast with the terrain and take critical avalanche safety education courses. But we are giving users the tools to apply this education right on the map.”
