POSTED: Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007
Playing it safe on the slopes
Alpine expert urges caution in snow-heavy backcountry
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closeWhen it comes to avalanche safety, the head of the Alpine Safety Awareness Program says it’s just as important to learn about human nature as it is to learn about the nature of snow.
“We need to learn more about ourselves than we need to learn about the snow pack,” says Michael Jackson, ASAP’s executive director. “We’ve gotta break bad habits.”
The Bellingham resident discussed snow safety during a tragic two weeks in Washington’s snow-heavy backcountry. Earlier this month, an avalanche killed two hikers and hurt a third north of the Alpental Ski Area. On Saturday, rescuers called off the search for three Seattle-area snowboarders believed to have been buried by an avalanche while on a snowboarding trip near Crystal Mountain.
Rescuers had been searching in vain for the men since last Tuesday.
Up to 30 people die in avalanches in the U.S. each year — most of them snowmobilers, snowshoers and backcountry skiers.
Jackson answers some questions about what causes avalanches and passes along tips for playing safe in the backcountry.
What conditions cause avalanche danger?
Heavy snowfall followed by rapid change in weather, such as an increase in wind speed or rapid warming temperatures. That causes an unstable snow pack that could barrel down a slope if triggered by human error.
What is the biggest mistake that people make?
“They don’t know what the hazard is and they commit to terrain that isn’t appropriate for the hazard,” Jackson says.
Most avalanche accidents occur during the weekend, after outdoors enthusiasts have spent the week at work or at school dreaming of playing in the snow. Then they head out without first checking for hazards through resources such as the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center.
“You can’t ski or ride or snowshoe a 45-degree slope after it’s snowed 15 inches and it’s blowing 30 knots,” Jackson says.
Maybe that’s the day to hang out on the couch, stay within the controlled boundaries of a ski area, or play on level ground, Jackson says. “You can always do something. You have to figure out what that something is,” he added.
Most avalanches occur on slopes of 25-50 degrees, according to Jackson.
What are the must-have tools for going into the backcountry?
Jackson calls them the “five to stay alive.”
They are:
• Avalanche beacon, which is also known as a transceiver
• Probe
• Shovel
• Partner
• Training
“Any of those without all of them is worthless,” Jackson cautions. “It’s about having all the gear.”
The beacon emits signals that will help your partner find you if you’re buried beneath an avalanche. The probe is a segmented pole that is pushed into the snow to pinpoint where you came to rest. That’s where your partner will start digging with the shovel.
Shoveling takes up the most time in a rescue, time that is precious.
Avalanche victims have a 90 percent chance of survival if they’re found within 15 minutes, barring trauma to their bodies, according to Jackson. Trauma accounts for 35 to 40 percent of avalanche deaths.
That’s why using all of your five tools is so important, he says.
“It’s not the four to stay mostly alive, or the three to kinda stay alive,” Jackson says.
AVALANCHE EDUCATION
Bellingham resident Michael Jackson, who is the executive director of the Alpine Safety Awareness Program, recommends these books and Web sites for learning more about avalanche safety.
• “Stay Alive in Avalanche Terrain,” by Bruce Tremper.
• “The Avalanche Handbook,” written by David McClung and Peter Schaerer, as well as “The ABC of Avalanche Safety” by Ed LaChapelle. “Both of those books are great books,” Jackson says.
• The Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center at www.nwac.us is a critical reference point for those who go into the backcountry. Check before heading out.
• The American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education at www.avtraining.org features safety tips as well as links to a video showing the devastating force of an avalanche and an interactive feature that allows users to create different kinds of avalanches. To find them, click on “Educational Downloads” from the menu bar at the top.
• The Canadian Avalanche Association site at www.avalanche.ca features safety tips, a glossary of terms and links to other avalanche organizations in Canada and the U.S.
LOCAL SNOW SAFETY TRAINING
Avalanche safety courses are available through these organizations:
• Alpine Safety Awareness Program — details at powderhino@aol.com and www.alpine safety.org
• American Alpine Institute — details at 671-1505 and www.aai.cc
• The Mountaineers — details at (206) 284-6310 and www.mountaineers.org
• The Bellingham Mountaineers will have member Pred Vadjic share the information he received during an in-depth avalanche training course he took last winter. His avalanche show and tell is set for the group’s regular monthly meeting at 7 tonight in the downstairs meeting room at the Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Ave. Details: www.bellinghammountaineers.org
IF YOU’RE CAUGHT
Survivors of avalanches say it’s like being squeezed by concrete once the snow settles. Here’s what to do to increase your chances of making it out alive:
• Yell “avalanche” when you’re first caught in it. That way, those who are with you can watch where the avalanche takes you and have a reference point to begin their search.
• Get rid of any equipment that may be near you to avoid being impaled, struck or dragged down under.
• Work hard to stay on top of the avalanche by swimming or rolling.
• As the avalanche slows, make a strong push up through the snow.
• Push one hand to the surface. Use your other hand to make as big of an air pocket as possible.
• Remain calm. Breathe slowly.
Source: U.S. Forest Service and Michael Jackson, executive director of the Alpine Safety Awareness Program
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