Essential Avalanche Safety Tips
Safe route planning, essential safety gear and advice while traveling in the back country
Like any other sport there is special equipment you and all the members of your group need to carry when traveling in avalanche terrain. The first thing everyone needs is to have knowledge. All the special equipment you carry needs to be practiced with before getting into a situation where you need to use it efficiently. Time is of the essence when rescuing a buried victim. Safety equipment includes:
- Rescue Shovel
- Avalanche probe
- Rescue beacon
- First aid kit
- Sat phone or cell phone
How do you know you are in avalanche terrain?
Signs to look for when in avalanche terrain
- Cracks radiating out from you as you ski
- Can you hear a Whumpf sound in the snow as you ski over it?
- Any abrupt change in weather conditions can cause a shift in the stability of the snow pack and should be viewed as such.
Safe route planning
When planning a safe route through avalanche terrain it is important the all members of the group be involved with route planning. The more experienced members should relay what effects the current conditions and the group should decide together which route to take.
Sometimes a group will have to ski across a slope that is suspect. Only one member of the group should cross at a time. This will minimize the risk to the group plus it will allow more group members to be involved in a rescue if a slide should occur. Have a designated safe stop area where group members can ski to after crossing the slope.
The angle of the slope is one factor that should be considered. Low angle slopes under 25º are unlikely to slide while slopes 30º + are ore likely. Choosing a low angle route when possible is often a better choice.
Selecting a route up the windward side of a ridge will generally be safer since the snow is scoured off the slope and deposited onto the leeward side. There is also less risk from cornices that build over leeward slopes.
If you see recent avalanche activity on a slope with similar characteristics to the one you plan on skiing it is likely that avalanches are occurring. It is best to avoid this slope until it stabilizes.
How are avalanches triggered?
Avalanches are either triggered by natural conditions such as changes in weather, snow loading or other conditions that naturally occur. Most avalanches are triggered naturally. Alternatively human triggered avalanches are responsible for most people being buried. The weight of a skier, snow boarder or snowmobiler can cause a failure between the layers of snow and result in an avalanche.
When caught in a slide what do you do?
If you see an avalanche approaching from above try to ski out to the side of the slope and avoid the slide. Ski down and to one side as quickly as possible. Never try to out run a large avalanche.
If the unthinkable happens and you are caught in a slide try to remove you pack and skis and get rid of your poles. All these can serve as anchors and actually hinder your chance of survival. Move your arms and legs as you would treading water. This will work the same way in snow and actually keep you near the top of the flow. As you feel the snow start to slow down start to struggle for the surface. Make one last push to get any part of your body above the surface of the snow as you feel the snow stop. Even a glove above the surface of the snow will dramatically speed up rescue.
Whenever there is accumulated snow on a sloped surface the potential for avalanches is present. The key to traveling safely in avalanche terrain is to reduce the risk by examining all the factors that can trigger a slide. By recognizing dangerous conditions you can eliminate routes that are unsafe and have a great day in the backcountry.
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