Here are some other tips to keep you from getting buried:

Follow the buddy system
You may think grown-ups don't need buddies, but skiing with a friend can save your life. More than a handful of skiers die in the United States every year because no one saw them swallowed up by the snow. Regardless of avalanche threats, buddy skiing is a smart idea. Whether you smack a tree, get buried in a hidden well or hurt yourself in a fall, having a friend there to get help can make all the difference.

Know your limits
Almost all ski-related injuries are the result of skiing too fast and out of control. Unfamiliar conditions, heavy snow, steep slopes, fatigue, crowds and weather all contribute to your ability to ski proficiently so evaluate the environment around you, and don't get cocky. The National Ski Patrol says more than 75 percent of ski area deaths are the result of advanced skiers losing control while skiing intermediate terrain.

Avalanche facts that could save you:

Snow is most unstable after and during snowfalls or prolonged heating by the sun, especially on steep inclines.

The most dangerous avalanches usually occur on convex slopes, also known as bowls or chutes.

Avalanches can occur on short slopes as well as long ones.

Leeward slopes are dangerous because wind-blown snow adds depth, creating hard, hollow sounding wind slabs.

South-facing slopes are most dangerous in the spring.

Following an old track does not necessarily mean a slope is safe.

Down-slanting trees and brush are a good sign an avalanche has struck the slope before.

Snow falling at an inch or more per hour increases the risk of an avalanche.

Rapid changes in wind, temperature and snowfall can cause changes in the snowpack and may affect stability.

If the snow cracks and the crack runs as you step on it, it could indicate a high risk of a slab avalanche, one of the most dangerous winter hazards.

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