Glossary

A skier walks up along a ridgetop. She will have to be cautious to avoid getting close to the cornices, which can be a major hazard when they break.

Snowmobilers travelling safely on a wide ridge.

Ridgecrest and ridgetop are terms used interchangeably to describe terrain at or near the top of a ridge. Ridgetop terrain is significant for a number of reasons:

Ridges often exist as a boundary between windward and leeward slopes.
Ridges often exist as a safe spot in avalanche terrain, reducing or eliminating exposure to hazards from overhead or adjacent slopes.
Ridges often offer a more efficient and lower-angle route to higher elevation when compared to gullies or draws.
Ridges offer better sightlines on surrounding terrain than do gullies or draws.
Cornices are most commonly formed along ridgetops.

Ridgetop (or Ridge Crest)