"Cornices grow through the winter on the leeward side of wind exposed ridges and summits. Cornices range from small wind lips of soft snow to overhangs of hard snow larger than a school bus. They can break off the terrain suddenly and unexpectedly and can sometimes be triggered from a distance. Overhung cornices can pull back further than expected onto a flat ridge top and catch people by surprise."
"While large cornices are quite destructive by themselves, even a small cornice can be deadly if it carries you over a cliff or rocky terrain below. The impact from a Cornice Fall can also easily trigger slab avalanches on steep slopes below. Travel cautiously on corniced ridgelines, giving cornices or unknown edges a wide berth. Limit your exposure to slopes below cornices. Cornice Fall is most likely during periods of significant temperature warm-up or rapid cornice growth due to wind loading."
Cornices are overhanging masses of wind-deposited snow that form on leeward sides of ridges and summits through the winter. They vary from small soft snow lips to massive hard overhangs. Cornices can break off suddenly, sometimes from a distance, and can pull back onto flat ridge tops, surprising travelers. Even small cornices can be deadly if they carry people over cliffs or rocky terrain. Cornice falls can also trigger slab avalanches on steep slopes below. Travel cautiously on corniced ridgelines, give unknown edges a wide berth, limit exposure to slopes below cornices, and avoid triggering cornice falls unless trained.
Read at Unofficial Networks
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