Winter is here...and in many places it brings snow to the mountains. Lots of it. And with lots of mountain snow comes avalanches. Some of them are fatal.
skier & avalanche
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As a former ski patroller and an avid back country skier, I'm familiar with avalanches. I've watched friends go for rides, recovered bodies, and even been fully buried myself. I have lots of stories. When I was caught and buried we did all the "right" stuff (dug multiple pits, were familiar with the snowpack and terrain, cut the hill numerous time) but none-the-less I got caught. It was a wild and scary ride. I'm quite glad my friend was well trained, had years of rescue experience, and there to dig me out. Although I managed to create a small air hole with my left hand before the snow completely settled, I don't think I could have gotten free by myself. I lost some gear, broke a brand new ski (it could easily have been my leg), and gained increased respect for the power of sliding snow. Later that winter I overheard a ski buddy with years of ski guiding, patrolling, and avy control experience say to a new backcountry skier: "If you spend enough time skiing in the high mountains, you'll eventually get caught in a sluff or avalanche." Whoa! Not particularly reassuring, yet I've found it to be true....
_That said, you can decrease your chances of getting caught and increase your chances of survival if you:
  • take an avalanche course, maintain your skills, and practice what you learn
  • travel with others who are trained in avalanche awareness, rescue, and wilderness medicine
  • turn on your avalanche transceiver before you enter avalanche terrain
  • have communication via cell or satellite phone with SAR
  • buy, practice with, and wear an AvaLung or similar device
  • listen to the local avalanche forecast and making prudent decisions
Here are a number of web sites that offer avalanche information and education:
 


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