"Cornice Fall is the release of an overhanging mass of snow that forms as the wind moves snow over a sharp terrain feature, such as a ridge, and deposits snow on the downwind (leeward) side. Cornices range in size from small wind lips of soft snow to large overhangs of hard snow that are 30 feet (10 meters) or taller."
"Where solid ground ends and a cornice begins is often unknown so its best to give them as much room as possible when you encounter from above. Also cornices can break off at anytime and can sometimes be triggered from a distance so we should limit our exposure on slopes below cornices. Cornice breaks can also triggered avalanches so that should be factored into your risk assessment."
Cornices form on the leeward sides of summits and ridgelines when wind transports and deposits snow over sharp terrain features. Sizes range from small wind lips to massive overhangs that can reach 30 feet or more. Cornices can break off suddenly, pulling back onto the ridge and surprising people even on flat ground above slopes. Cornice falls can entrain loose surface snow or trigger slab avalanches, producing destructive and deadly outcomes. Ski areas employ mitigation methods to limit inbounds cornice growth, but backcountry cornices can grow to epic proportions and cannot be trusted. Maintain large setbacks from ridge edges and avoid terrain beneath cornices because of remote triggering and avalanche risk.
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