Avalanche Safety

Although avalanche safety could take on several issues to be addressed there are some issues that are obviously more important than others. Some of these issues about safety are literally ignored by individuals who in all reality are sad, simply because had that individual observed the avalanche safety measures perhaps the individual would not get caught in an avalanche.

For example, where signs are posted that it is a “high risk area” meaning avalanches occur some people disregard the signs and go into that area. Another problem is bad weather. When an advisory for winter weather or large amounts of snow in an area requests that individuals don’t go out into the weather, unfortunately they do not heed this warning and still go out.

However, they do not take into consideration that sometimes it is large amounts of heavy snow fall on a peak that can cause an avalanche. Or the saturated snow from falling rain or wet snow can also create an avalanche. Other forms of avalanche safety include terrain management. This is when a known high risk avalanche area is apparent to the public state or city officials post that this is a bad place to be. Staying away for weaknesses like exposed rock or other terrain traps.

Groups which go out onto slopes or high avalanche areas or routes are encouraged not to. Although going in a group is somewhat of a good idea, there are slopes and other “soft snow” traps that cannot withstand the weight of an entire group and unfortunately these are unseen to the eye.

These “traps” lie under the snow as pockets and can cause an avalanche if broken through. A better point is keeping some distance from one another, keeping good communication and visual contact, and warm gear in the event of being buried by an unexpected avalanche to prevent or delay hypothermia. The idea of traveling alone is not a good idea. And, having a large ground is not a good idea either.

Being alone, you have no one. And having a large group there are many to carry out if you are caught in an avalanche and some are injured. The biggest thing about avalanche safety within a group scenario is leadership. One person should be chosen to determine the exploration or routine for the day.

Even the smallest avalanches can be deadly. Victims caught under the snow will die of suffocation after 35 minutes. Those who are not buried under the snow completely are often injured by debris carried by the avalanche or hypothermia because the avalanche carries such weight and resistance to the moving trap is relentless.