What should you avoid when riding in avalanche-prone areas?

When riding in avalanche-prone areas, it is essential to avoid stopping at the bottom of steep slopes. This is because avalanches often start on steep terrain and can travel downward, accumulating mass and speed as they go. Stopping at the bottom poses a significant risk, as the snow could release and slide down toward where you have paused. Being in that area during an avalanche can have dire consequences.

The other options, while they may present certain risks, do not carry the immediate danger associated with stopping directly at the base of a slope where an avalanche is likely to occur. Riding on flat terrain is less risky, as it tends to be more stable, while resting without proper gear can simply increase the risk of exposure without necessarily placing you in harm's way from sliding snow. Lastly, picking up speed on steep inclines can be risky in its own right, but it does not directly put you in the predictable line of an avalanche like pausing at the bottom of steep slopes does.