Safety First: Avalanche Awareness and Preparedness

For winter athletes venturing into backcountry snow zones, understanding avalanche risks and being prepared to respond is absolutely vital. Whether you enjoy mellow snowshoeing, moderate resort skiing, or extreme pursuits such as heliskiing, avalanches really do pose a constant threat when on snowy mountainsides. Unfortunately, around 30 people die in avalanches every year in the United States alone. Nevertheless, with knowledge and preparedness, the experts at Andes Heliboarding tell us that you can significantly reduce these risks. 

How Avalanches Form

First of all, it’s important to understand what causes slab avalanches, the type responsible for most avalanche fatalities. Certain conditions prime the snowpack for sliding and breaking free as a deadly, fast moving mass. Loading snow and wind events create unstable slabs that sit weakly on softer layers of the ground. Triggers, like a skier for example, then cause the slab to fracture from this layer and start sliding.

Knowing how avalanches originate can help you identify risky conditions. Pay particular attention after large storms and wind as they can load snow onto leeward slopes. Constantly assess the snowpack stability as you move through alpine terrain and beware of slope angles between 30 and 45 degrees, where slabs are much more likely to slide. 

Carry Proper Safety Gear

All backcountry winter recreationists should carry, at the very least, a beacon or transceiver, a collapsible probe pole, and a shovel. Make sure everyone in your group has this essential “holy trinity” of rescue gear. Know how to turn your beacon to send and search modes, and practice quickly locating a buried beacon. Probes help pinpoint the buried person’s location while shovels allow rapid digging to uncover the victim. Carry your safety kit in an easily accessible place where it will not be lost.

Additional useful gear is a backpack, hydration, extra layers, headlamp, and a first aid kit in case injuries occur during extraction. Share gear like shovels among the group to distribute weight. Never head into potential avalanche terrain without these lifesaving tools and the training to use them effectively.

Prepare and Get Educated

Seeking avalanche education should be an essential component of any backcountry winter athlete’s preparation. Take a formal AIARE avalanche safety course to learn how to identify risks, perform snowpack assessments, and respond in emergencies. Know how to check slope aspect and angle, perform stability tests, and dig snow pits to evaluate layers. Recognizing red flags early can prevent disasters.

Make a Plan and Stick Together

Before embarking, develop a trip plan based on favorable avalanche conditions and terrain appropriate for the group’s skill level. Discuss an emergency action plan so everyone knows how to respond in a crisis: how to probe, where to meet, when to call for help. Choose your route wisely, avoiding steep pitches and forests with widowmaker danger. Communicate stops and separated group members’ locations. Stick close together rather than spreading out. Should an incident occur, unified focus enhances speedy reaction.

Even mellow activities like resort skiing or snowshoeing require basic avalanche planning and preparedness. But higher risk pursuits like backcountry skiing, heliskiing, or snowmobiling demand meticulous caution. Don’t push conditions or overestimate abilities. Live to play another day by putting safety first.

Conclusion: Spread the Avalanche Awareness Message

As winters bring more rookies flocking to snowy mountains, spread the word on smart backcountry practices. Mentor those needing guidance among your crew. Set the example of preparedness for others to emulate. Speak out if you notice poor decisions being made. Check all group members carry essential safety tools and know their use. With knowledge and vigilance, we can avoid preventable tragedies in the mountains we all cherish. Stay safe out there, because there’s always another epic season ahead to look forward to.