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Avalanche Safety
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 This
year, like so many others before, there were news reports of many
avalanche fatalities, even before the ski, snowboard and snowmobile
season began. There are both natural, physical triggers, as well
as human triggers, which can cause an avalanche.
Facts:
Once the victim has been completely buried, there is only a one
in three chance of survival.
Avalanches are often triggered by a person or group of persons
exploring the backcountry.
Last year, almost half of the fatal avalanches in North America
were accounted for by the snowmobile category alone.
The survival rate drops to 50% after the first 20 minutes
Should this mean you shouldn’t enjoy the winter snow and take
backcountry trips in the mountains? No, but there are some basic
guidelines to follow that could save your life.
First, understand that an avalanche is unpredictable, but there
are certain conditions that can make an avalanche more likely to
occur. A long period of cold and clear weather can weaken the snowpack.
This can set up a situation where an avalanche is easily triggered.
It is hard to get a sense of the layering of the snowpack, but
you can begin to "feel" the consistency of the snow. When
there is stiffness or a styro-foam texture of the snowcover are
significant. Sounds can be your biggest clue. Listen for hollow
sounds, cracking, or collapsing sounds around you. Get a feel for
snow stability and when you’re unsure, try to stick to flatter
and more open terrain. Consider the snowpack before crossing under
a place where an avalanche may be a risk. Look for an alternative
route.
There are even courses taught by avalanche professionals to lessen
the probability that you may get caught in one. There are new probes
available as safety tools, and high-tech beacons, which can send
distress signals, these are handy to have—but do very little
good if you don’t have a shovel as well.
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