Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale

Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) v.1/04

Description	Class	Terrain Criteria
Simple	1	Exposure to long angle or primarily forested terrain. Some forest openings may involve the runout zones of infrequent avalanches. Many options to reduce or eliminate exposure. No glacier travel.
Challenging	2	Exposure to well defined avalanche paths, starting zones or terrain traps; options exist to reduce or eliminate exposure with careful routefinding. Glacier travel is straightforward but crevasse hazard may exist.
Complex	3	Exposure to multiple overlapping avalanche paths or large expanses of steep, open terrain; multiple avalanche starting zones or terrain traps below; minial options to reduce exposure. Complicated glacier travel with extensive crevasse bands or icefalls.

The detailed technical criteria for Simple, Challenging and Complex ratings are available from the Parks Canada website.

ATES Terrain Ratings for SW BC Destinations

Official CAA ATES ratings are set by avalanche professionals who are memebers of the Canadian Avalanche Association. VOC ATES ratings are suggested by VOC members for interim use until CAA avalanche professional rates these trips.

Trip	Description	CAA ATES Rating[1]	VOC ATES Rating
Elfin Lakes Shelter	From Diamond Head parking lot along the marked route on the top of Paul Ridge to the Elfin Lakes Shelter	Simple
Roe Creek to Brew Hut	Access via Roe Creek road and marked trail to Brew Lake. Main hazard comes from crossing a number of open rocky slopes along the trail that are below treeline. Above Brew Lake there are many route finding options and the best route has very little avalanche exposure. See Roe Creek Ski Route page.		Challenging
Brew Lake Basin	Most terrain is low angle but there are a few small steeper slopes to watch out for		Challenging
Bowl and Tree Skiing East of Brew Hut	Upper bowl has alpine exposure to winds, treeline below the lake down to 1300m		Challenging
Brandywine Creek Bowl near Brew Hut	This is the bowl immediately below the Brew Hut on the Brandywine Creek side. There are a number of steep couloirs that cause frequent avalanches into this bowl		Complex
Black Tusk	Approach from Garibaldi lake or microwave towers. Objective is skiing slopes just below final rock summit	Complex
Black Tusk East Knob	Approach from Garibaldi Lake with objective of skiing terrain above Black Tusk Meadows up as high as the summit of the east knob		Challenging
Anniversary Glacier	Keith's Hut to Matier - Joffre col. Exposed traverse beneath SE Face of Joffre Peak to gain the Anniversary Glacier is the crux of the route	Complex
Cayoosh Mtn		Complex
Cerise Creek to Keith's Hut		Challenging
Burton Hut via Rubble Creek Trail	Normal route to the Burton Hut via Rubble Creek Trail and skiing across Garibaldi Lake. Entire route is below treeline.		Simple
Guard Glacier	The long ski run from near the top of the Deception Pinnacles down to the Burton Hut		Challenging
Garibaldi Neve Traverse		Challenging
Hurley Silver Mine		Complex
Joffre Lakes		Challenging
Wendy Thompson Hut access	Normal route from Duffey Lake road via Cayoosh Creek.	Simple
Needle Peak Bowl		Challenging
Rainbow Mountain		Challenging
Mount Sproatt	via hanging valley from 21 mile creek		Challenging
Mount Rohr		Challenging
Steep Creek		Complex
Thar Basin		Complex
Van Horlick		Complex
Vantage Peak	From Keith's Hut via SW ridge	Challenging
Zoa Peak		Challenging
Corona		Complex
Husume		Complex
Mount Seymour	Ski area parking lot to third peak	Simple
Mt Decker		Complex
Mt Fissile		Complex
Mt Phalanx & Poop Chutes		Complex
Mt Whirlwind		Challenging
Singing Pass Area	Includes Musical Bumps (Flute, Oboe), Singing Pass, Cowboy Ridge and Russet Ridge	Challenging
Spearhead Traverse		Complex
Brian Waddington Hut access	Normal access route via Phelix Creek. This route is below treeline, but crosses a number of large avalanche tracks and runout zones near the valley bottom		Simple
Cabin Hill	Popular skiing area near Brian Waddington Hut		Challenging
Mount Gandalf	from Brian Waddington Hut via South Face. This is a large open face with numerous avalanche gullies		Complex
Mount Aragorn	from Brian Waddington Hut via Aragorn Glacier		Challenging
Copp Creek	A long ski run from the Brian Waddington Hut accessed via the Aragorn Glacier		Complex