Sure, speeding down well-groomed ski runs can be fun, but if you
like your wilderness wild, the resort scene may not be your cup of
cocoa. Out in the backcountry, there are no crowds or high-priced
lift tickets, but there are plenty of majestic views and wondrous
solitude. Unfortunately, the winter mountains are also home to one
of nature's most violent and deadly phenomena: avalanches.
Knowledge, preparation, and caution are the keys to survival in
avalanche country.
Steps
- Take an avalanche safety training course.
Knowledge is your best defense against the danger of avalanches,
and there's no better way to gain firsthand knowledge than by
taking an avalanche safety course. These vary widely in price and
scope, and you can choose courses that fit your primary activities,
i.e. skiing or snowmobiling.
- Pay attention to forecasts and heed warnings.
In many mountainous areas, these forecasts are regularly updated
throughout the avalanche season. You may be able to find this
information on the internet, on local radio and TV, at resorts and
government offices, or by calling hotlines (Colorado, for example,
has 7 hotlines to cover different areas of the state). If an
avalanche advisory is in effect, postpone or reroute your trip. If
you're near a resort or on frequently used trails, signs warning of
avalanche danger may also be present.
- Travel in a group. If you're alone and get
buried or seriously injured in an avalanche, your odds of survival
are slim to none. Always travel with at least one other person, and
make sure your companions are trained in avalanche safety and
rescue.
- Be prepared. When traveling into avalanche
country, carrying some simple equipment can save your life.
- Slope meter: Because avalanches occur almost
exclusively on slopes between 25 and 50 degrees, and 90% of
avalanches occur on slopes of 30-45 degrees, a slope meter is the
single most important tool you can have to avoid avalanche danger.
Use it to determine the angle of a slope before attempting to cross
or climb the slope. If the angle is in the danger range, avoid the
slope.
- Rescue beacon: Wear a rescue beacon on your
top layer of clothing beneath your coat. Switch in on and test it
before you set out.
- Avalanche cord: Before rescue beacons, the
primary avalanche safety equipment was the rescue cord, and these
are still useful. Attach one end of the cord (usually about 30 feet
long) and drag the cord behind you. If you get buried in an
avalanche, at least part of the cord should stay above the
surface.
- Collapsible avalanche probes. Every member of
a group should carry probes to search for buried victims in the
event of an avalanche.
- Shovels: Everyone should also carry a shovel
to dig out people that have been buried.
- Avalanche Airbag System: These relatively new
devices have been shown to help avalanche victims stay above the
surface. Your wear the system in backpack and pull a release when
the avalanche starts. They're expensive (about $500-1000), but they
can save your life.
- Recognize nature's warning signs. The surest
sign of avalanche danger is evidence of recent avalanches, an
indication that local conditions are right for more. Keep in mind
that 95% of avalanches occur during or within 24 hours of heavy
rain or snowfall, and high winds also contribute to avalanche
formation, so try to avoid heading off-piste in these conditions.
Particularly warm days, with thawing or temperatures that approach
or surpass freezing, are also high-risk. Another warn
