Snow and Avalanche Glossary

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Avalanche Path

Also: Channel path, channeled avalanche, toe

The entire area down which an avalanche moves. Made up of the starting zone, track, and runout zone. The tip on the avalanche debris after an avalanche has come to a stop is sometimes called the toe, this marks the furthest extent of the sliding snow.

Also: Terrain where avalanches are known to occur or likely to occur, including steep open slopes, bowls, gullies, and other features.

An avalanche and/or path which is constricted or confined for a portion of its flow by terrain features such as a gully is called a channel or channeled avalanche and/or path.

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