How to read an avalanche bulletin over your morning coffee

Before I ever thought about building software, I spent winters teaching avalanche courses. The question I heard most was some version of: 'I open the bulletin, and I don't know where to look.' That's completely fair. Bulletins are packed with care by forecasters who dug in the snow at dawn, and they're dense.

Here's the order I read them in. It's also the order Diorite follows when it summarizes one for you.

1. The danger rating for where you will actually be

Skip the headline number and find the rating for your elevation. 'Low' below treeline doesn't mean much if you're headed to a north-facing alpine bowl rated considerable.

2. The avalanche problems

This is the good stuff. Each problem tells you what kind of avalanche is likely, on which slopes, at what elevations, and how big it could be. Wind slab, persistent slab and wet loose snow each call for very different choices.

3. The forecaster discussion

Read the whole thing. It's where forecasters tell you what's keeping them up at night and how confident they feel. Words like 'low confidence' or 'spatially variable' are a gentle nudge toward simpler terrain.

4. Turn it into a plan, together

• Name the slopes and elevations you'll avoid
• Pick a simpler backup before you leave the car
• Agree on a turnaround time and a decision point
• Tell someone your plan and when you'll be home

If any of this feels new, please take an avalanche course. It's one of the best days you'll ever spend on snow, and no app, ours included, replaces it.