![](https://images.prismic.io/avalancheca/73d711cf-4f39-4b2c-903b-54c7667bcfca_cornice.jpg?auto=compress,format)
- Credit
- Raven Eye Photography
![](https://images.prismic.io/avalancheca/db7dd24be3685400a92bc313196c4318dc25d68e_ridgetoptravel_edit.jpg?auto=compress,format)
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.
See also: