Backcountry Avalanche Safety

More and more skiers and snowboarders go out of area boundaries in search of deep powder. Yet the backcountry terrain is neither patrolled nor controlled. Avalanches can easily wipe-out anything in their path: people, trees, cars, and buildings.

Fortunately for us, the only experience any of the HighAltitude2U family has with any type of avalanche happened many years ago at a Utah resort. Near the base is a creek that was covered up by snow. As he skied over it the snow gave way. He fell in, and was caught spread eagle. His hands and were bound by his ski poles stuck in the snow above. He’s skis were stuck in the snow on either side of the creek with the icy water running underneath. As soon as his companions found him ok, they laughed, then left him to get out on his own. Since then he always removes the straps from all of his poles. Aside from that, we have some good tips and statistic, but the best advice we can give is to take an avalanche safety course.

Avalanche statistics show us most accidents, unlike our experience, involve slab avalanches. The victim, or one of the victim's companions, usually trigger the slab that kills them. About 85% of the avalanche fatalities happen in the backcountry. Skiers and climbers make up the most of the victims. Once a victim is completely buried, there is only a 1 out of 3 chance of survival.