Avalanche Awareness - It's no joke......

.......... getting caught up in an avalanche.

This Forum gets virtually no new threads - so I thought I'd kick it into life. Which may just help save your life or somebody elses.

You've probably noticed other threads in other forums which harp on about 'So - you think you're a good skier...?'. Well, you may be or you may not - but one thing is pretty much true for the majority of skiers - you're not an expert on snow dynamics etc. Also, too often, people who think they are good skiers - also think that they are good at spotting an avalanche danger. Usually, though, they spot one when it's on top of them.

I don't proffess to be an expert on avalanches, but here is what I do know, and if it helps you and others you ski with avoid an avalanche - then it may be worth a read. (Even Royal families get caught up in avalanches...... remember?).

By far and away - the greatest risk is when there is lots of new snow, particularly on steep slopes. However, you can be standing in the middle of a village yet still get hit by an avalanche - for the simple reason that they move - a lot - and very very fast. Actually, in a lot of avalanches - you won't be hit by a wall of snow first - but by the shock wave of the compressed air *in front* of the avalanche. This shock wave can be easily sufficient to send you flying - or even bend pine tress right over.

The mountain patrols are there to protect the village from an avalanche - so there's not a lot you can do to prevent being hit whilst in bed. So, I'll confine this to 'the slopes'.

'Being aware' is your greatest protection against initially being caught in an avalanche. Read the notices which are posted detailing the avalanche danger. Abide by the notices - and remember - if you go down a run/trail/piste that is officially 'Closed' - you may be invalidating your insurance. And, in any case - if you have an accident - you will be calling on others to come and rescue you in a danger zone - and they won't thank you for it.

Skiing on piste.......

If you are on a run that is officially open - you can be pretty sure that you are safe from avalanches. However, it never does you harm to look 'up' at adjoining slopes where there could be a skier/boarder crossing a wide expanse to reach that nice piece of virgin deep snow. In so doing they may be about to set off an avalanche which may not reach you - but could reach others not so aware. In any case - if you do see somebody going 'wide and wild' - stay away unless you're 100% sure it's safe.

Unfortunately - some people leave their brains back at the bottom of the mountain, and often skiing in groups of three or four - they follow that person going wide and wild. Seeing the one in front, they think 'Well, they made it - so it must be safe'. In fact all the person in front has done is carve a nice cut in what was holding the snow up - so that when the following person gets to it - and their weight - away the snow goes from underneath them - meanwhile the person who went first has long gone.

Also, just because you saw five people in the morning go over a 'route to heavenly deep snow' - that doesn't mean that in the afternoon it will still be ok. The sun does incredible things to snow which changes not only every day - but every hour. So keep your eyes open.

Then - there are those who think that because they went with a mountain guide last week to 'a wonderous place' - and the guide knew all there was to know - that they too can now lead a party off piste to that wonderous place and potentially - heaven.

Never trust a vacational skier who suddenly becomes a mountain guide overnight...!!!

Still - assuming you stay safe on piste - and you venture off piste. This is the very moment that the above advice falls into the 'very important' category. The piste officials only open a run if they can be 100% sure that the piste will not get an avalanche going over it. As soon as you leave the piste - you leave that guarantee behind.

Life has risks - and off piste is one of them, and provided you take precautions - you can minimize that risk.

Rule 1. If it looks dodgy - forget it NOW.

Before sking onto an area of off piste (deep snow) look first at what is above your line - ie. Higher up the mountain/slope - towards the peak. You could be about to ski a really safe slope - but if what's above is teetering on coming down - that safe slope becomes a burial ground. Consider whether there has been a wind blowing snow to the top of the ridge that has been building up a lip of snow that could break off and just give a nudge to set off the avalanche. How long has the sun been shining on this slope today? Are there any other tracks around? If not - why not?

If you (all) agree that it is safe - then one person will lead. That person will often make a crossing track across the slope to reach that bit where they'll *all* start from. Apart from the 'carving' mentioned above - what tends to happen is that person one goes across and stops. Then person two and then person three - and they all stop close to eachother. BIG MISTAKE!!. Each person with skis, boots etc on average weighs 120kgs (264lbs) - if that's five of you - that makes half a tonne standing on the slope - all in the same place.....!!! So - do not stop in exactly the same place - either directly above or below your companions. Spread out across the slope. This has the advantage that if an an avalanche does go off - you'll not all be rolling in a ball kicking eachother and chopping heads off with your skis, and you may be to the left or right of the start point.

Choosing your patch of beatifully carved turns......

Yes, you want to create a set of tracks to impress the world.... this is best achieved by leaving the snow up the mountain.... not down. Each person should go one at a time down and NOT stop half way down.... if you get too tired - ski off to a safe position at the side if it is safe (ie - not a side position that is steep with wind blown snow) or keep going to the bottom - and THEN go to the side.

Those who stay at the top should wait until the person ahead has done their artistry and then they too can proceed. At this point the person at the botton should position themself so that if an avalanche does go off, they can a) Get out of the way, b) Be in a position to know where anybody caught up in the avalanche 'was' and could be.

Slopes to avoid.

Steep with fresh deep snow.
Those that look like nobody else dares to go on.
Those which get a lot of sun all day.
Those which have a north facing wind which blows over on to this south side of the peak.
Those which do not have a 'side' that you can use to stay or get to safety.
Those which have a narrow ending. (A mass of snow coming off a wide slope above - funnelling down into a narrow gully leaves you no escape route - and only a rock to land against).

Preparations for off psite.

Get all the equipment you can sensibly afford and carry.

A transceiver is an absolute minimum.
A safety bag (which inflates) is good - but if you're relying on that to stay alive - you're probably taking too great a risk.
At least one person should have a shovel. (It's amazing how quick a shovel works compared with your bare hands).
*** NUMBER ONE TOP TOOL **** - A mobile phone with the local emergency number pre programmed.

Transceivers........... are *virtually* USELESS.......... if you don't know how to use one. Whenever you are given a transceiver to use, before setting off - get everybody to practice:-

1. Putting into 'send' mode
2. Putting it into 'search' mode
3. More than one (preferabbly all but one) in 'send' mode.

Then try and find burried transceivers - either with all but one 'searching' (one person buried scenario) - but also - with several placed 100 metres apart in a circle - and one person tring to 'find'. You'll be amazed at how some models can make it a nightmare to 'find' when you get conflicting signals from different directions. Then, when you've all had a good laugh watching eachother walking around in circles - imagine how it would be if your four nearest and dearest were relying on you to find them - after you've just watched one of the most horrific sights in your life - and how you're going to need every once of energy, stamina and clear thinking in the event of the unthinkable. Read below.


So - the ultimate happens.

One person burried further dow nthe slope (because you were clever and only let one person ski down at a time - and you weren't all standing huddled together).

You have between ten and fiftenn minutes to find them. After that - survival chances nose dive.

You will have seen where you last saw the person - that will be your uphill starting point for your search. BEFORE you start to move - CALL the emergency services - explaining that there has been an avalanche - WHERE - the number of people buried - the number of people not affected and a brief estimate of the length and ferocity of the avalanche.

Put ALL people who have not been buried into 'search' mode. Go down to just above the point where you last saw the buried person. Look for signs of ski equipment (Skis - hats - goggles - gloves - trousers even - all become ripped off in an avalanche). If you ski deep snow - takes your hands out of the ski stick loops. When you fall this often marks where your skis will be burried - and in an avalanche a stick often rides on top. You may find that you will need to take your skis off to walk across the avalanche area as there could be massive bolders of snow that skis just can't negotiate. Sometimes - two legs are better than two skis.

Work your way across the avalanche area from left to right across the slope - do NOT go downwards, as, if you have to climb up the slope when you find that you went too far - you'll become exhausted quicker - and you may not make it in the time allowed - because you went downwards too quickly. Only when you have scanned across will you know whereabouts in a downward direction you can concentrate on. Then you can go downwards - again going left to right.

When you arrive at the spot where you believe the victim is burried - FIRST - go left and right and up and down - IN A STRAIGHT LINE - FACING in one direction. Ie. Imagine that where you stand is where you think the person is burried - and that is the centre of a compass. Move North and then South - then East and West. This should better enable you to mark with an X the point. If you start walking in circles or turning around - you'll not get an accurate bearing. When you think you are 'on the spot', Lift the transceiver high up and then put it right down to the snow. At this point - when you move it left or right -and it gets quieter - this is the 'strongest signal'. You probably will only get once chance at a dig. Make sure the spot you choose is the correct choice.

Once you've located the person - start digging with the aim of finding their head. The job is to get to their face to enable them to start breathing. When you find their face, if they are not breathing, open there mouth and hook out any snow that you can reach, and then appply mouth to mouth. Beware that they may have inhaled a lot of snow. In instances of having more than one person burried - once you've found a person and exposed their face - get them breathing and check that they can continue to do so - and then leave them - and go and find another to dig out. They'll be fine once they're breathing. You might like to mark their position with a ski stick though. They can be dug out fully later.

When the emergency services arrive - tell them what you have found. If they have dogs with them - get away from the area so that your scent does not confuse the dogs.

By this time you will be totally exhausted and suffering from shock. Do what you can - but please don't be like a St. Bernhard and offer alcohol around. Alcohol and cold do not mix in the least.

I hope - in a way - that the above will serve to make people think just how frightening an avalanche can be. Best avoided - but if unavoidable - be ready. I've deliberatly not included some of the more unpleasant aspects.

One way that you really can keep safe - go with a LOCAL experienced/sanctioned guide. They don't stay in the job long if they kill guests.
They are always good fun to be with and know how to get into any restaurant you fancy.... but they do charge - quite a bit. But cheap - compared to ..........

Safe season - to all...

Good post, and a useful reminder for experienced slope users, plus novices just starting out. You have not mentioned carrying Avalanche Probes as a search tool. Any particular reason?

What do you mean when you say "safety bag"? The ABS Avalanche Airbag Backpack or something different?

I did not mention probes because vacationers rarely carry them, although as I said - as much equipment as you can.

Yes - ABS - but not the sort you get in your car.....

One thing I forgot to mention - make sure your transceiver is *tightly* strapped to your body. Because ski jackets get ripped off in an avalanche - it's no use - if anything a major hinderence - if it gets put in your jacket pocket.

BTW AFAIK The ABS backpack charge canisters are still banned by airlines originating in the UK. So, you can't fly to resort if you intend to travel with an operational ABS pack. If anyone has any updates on this please post them. I did hear that in Chamonix you can now rent an ABS pack for the day/longer.

I can't imagine anyone wearing a transceiver in a jacket pocket though, most are switched on by fastening the harness :?:

Actually, Meercat's post has reminded me of something. Apparently the SCGB led groups require the wearing of transceivers at all times when off piste. Okay fine, but one such group was seen by a friend at lunch inside a smart restaurant in Les Arcs all still wearing their transceivers whilst they ate a large lunch :D

The risk level was posted at 2 that day.

Meercat wrote:I did not mention probes because vacationers rarely carry them, although as I said - as much equipment as you can.

Yes - ABS - but not the sort you get in your car.....

One thing I forgot to mention - make sure your transceiver is *tightly* strapped to your body. Because ski jackets get ripped off in an avalanche - it's no use - if anything a major hinderence - if it gets put in your jacket pocket.

I must be misreading this, you're not suggesting that probes are anything other than essential surely?

Meercat - thanks for taking the time to post that; avalanches are definitely something we should all consider.

Meercat wrote:I did not mention probes because vacationers rarely carry them

IME that's not generally the case; pretty much everyone I've ever encountered with a bleeper has had "The Holy Trinity" of transceiver, shovel and probe. Whether or not they've had enough practice with them is another issue but they do generally go together.

bandit wrote:The risk level was posted at 2 that day.

Tsk, tsk... Level 2 on the Avalanche Risk Scale is still "Moderate"; that's a moderate risk of death to you or your companions, so quite enough to justify wearing a bleeper.

And remember that's the general risk level for the area - there will be individual slopes that are far riskier; even in the most benign conditions. The only time there is zero risk of avalanche is when there's no snow (at all).

Although presumably the risk was a little lower in the restaurant... 8)

But fair dos... if you take it off at lunchtime, you need to remember to put it back on again when you leave!

Re. Probes.

I wonder whether or not in the panic of a situation a person with a transceiver and a probe will in their haste to detect a burried person resort to using the probe rather than pinpoint using the transceiver. Sure, a probe for comfirming that you're in the right place to dig is good - but what if the transceiver says 'yes' and the probe is unable to penetrate deep enough or bangs up against some packed snow/ice? Vital seconds could be lost re-probing in the area.

That said, probes are not there for no reason - and it's what the rescue teams use. So they must be the way to go.