Sierra Blogging Post Archives

Snow is finally falling in the mountains and for those of us who like to play in it, that's great news. But along with snow comes the possibility of deadly avalanches. Already this year in Washington state, three snowboarders are missing on Crystal Mountain and two hikers have died in the Cascades. In Colorado this past weekend, a backcountry skier was buried by an avalanche, but his companions were able to free and resuscitate him in time.

No doubt about it, if you're headed into the backcountry this winter, you need to be prepared for an avalanche. You should be able to identify avalanche conditions, know the anatomy of an avalanche, and be prepared with the right gear in case you're trapped by an avalanche. According to the National Ice & Snow Data Center Avalanche Awareness site, "climbers, backcountry skiers, and snowmobilers are by far the most likely to be involved in avalanches." Three quarters of them are experienced backcountry enthusiasts.

Read the full article from the NSIDC for detailed information on how to identify and avoid sketchy avalanche conditions. Here's an excerpt about the gear you should carry with you each and every time you venture out into the snowy backcountry...



Avalanche gear

Ideally, avoiding avalanches in the first place is much easier than trying to survive one. Avalanche safety begins even before you begin your travel. In addition to keeping an eye out for weather and terrain conditions, there are steps you can take ahead of time to help you or other members of your party if you are caught in an avalanche.

Proper equipment can be a critical factor in rescue efforts. Avalanches kill in two ways. A victim will either endure fatal trauma (collisions with rocks or trees) during an avalanche, or will suffocate after they are buried by snow. While trauma deaths occur before rescue can take place, the more common suffocation deaths are often tragic because with the proper equipment and expertise, they can be avoided.

Portable shovels made of plastic and aluminum are lightweight and compact enough that they can be carried in a pack. Digging with a shovel, as opposed to using hands or ski poles, can dramatically decrease the time it takes to dig out a victim. Digging by hand takes an average of 45 minutes to dig out one square meter of snow. Using a shovel to dig out the same amount of snow takes less than ten minutes.

Collapsible probes or ski-pole probes are also easy to carry along. Collapsible probes usually consist of two-foot lengths of tubular steel that join together to make a probe ten to twelve feet long. Ski-pole probes are made so that grips and baskets can be removed. The two poles can then be joined together to form a probe. Probing is essential to finding a buried victim if there are no visible clues on the surface.

Avalanche beacons (transceivers) are the most commonly used rescue device, and are standard equipment for ski-area patrollers and heli-ski operators. When properly used, they provide the fastest way of locating a victim. When a victim is buried, the transceiver will emit a frequency that other transceivers can home in on. However, it is critical to have the transceiver set to "transmit" during your outing. When trying to locate a buried victim, rescuers will then switch their transceivers to "receive" to locate the signal. Unfortunately, avalanche deaths have occurred due to the fact that the victims had their transceiver switched to "receive" rather than "transmit." Consequently, rescuers could not locate them in time.

Remember that more than one transceiver unit is required. A transceiver will not help locate a victim who is not also wearing one. Likewise, a victim with a transmitting beacon may not be found unless someone else has a transceiver to pick up that signal.

Using beacons requires practice. Homing in on a buried signal involves moving in increasingly smaller circles around the area of the signal. When purchasing a unit, learn how to use it properly, and practice using it frequently. Make sure those in your party carrying transceivers understand how to use them.

Time is of the essence. Carrying this equipment may mean the difference between life and death for someone buried in an avalanche. Statistics show that most survivors are dug out within 15 to 30 minutes. For victims buried longer than 30 minutes, survival chances decrease drastically. In fact, U.S. statistics show that victims buried longer than 45 minutes rarely survive. Depth of burial is also a factor in surviving, but even if a victim is near the surface, the length of time it takes to locate them and dig them out can still be the critical factor.


If you plan on skiing, boarding, hiking, snowshoeing, climbing, or even snowmobiling in the backcountry this winter, it would be wise to take an avalanche course.

POST UPDATE 12/11/07: Lukas Oldenburg, the backcountry skier who was buried in an avalanche near Cameron Pass December 3rd, died today from his injuries. We are deeply saddened by this tragic news. Our hearts, prayers, and condolences are with his friends, family, and fellow adventurers.