Avalanche Safety & Back-country Skills
By, Kevin Jackson
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| Snow Cat Skiing & boarding in Chile |
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| Valle Arpa |
The lure of fresh powder and the chance to avoid the crowds
makes backcountry skiing and boarding an ideal way to create that picture
perfect day. On a recent trip to the Chilean Andes with The Southern Terrain we had the amazing
opportunity to snow cat ski some of the most remote regions of the country and
experience snow similar to what you would expect in Valdez, Alaska. However,
with ideal conditions comes the danger of backcountry exploration. Thankfully,
our team was prepared and prudent with our situation and we enjoyed possibly
the greatest day of powder anyone has ever had. While our experience was
surreal, all too often the results of backcountry exploration end in
unfortunate situations.
Each year, avalanches claim more than 150 lives worldwide, and
thousands more are caught in avalanches partly buried or injured. With the
amount of snow fall we’ve had so early in the season the avalanche danger,
particularly in the Eastern Sierras, can be high so please consider these
important safety precautions and instructions when entering into avalanche
prone areas. Particularly, how to test for avalanche conditions, what to do if
you are caught in an avalanche as well as proper rescue techniques.
How to Determine a Safe
Snowpack
There are numerous ways to gauge the stability of the
snowpack without technical equipment. Firstly, watch for any cracks jetting
across the surface or small slabs shearing off. Also, listen for
"hollow" or "thumping" noises as you walk or ski across the
surface. This indicates that there is a weaker layer underneath, leaving the
surface layer prone to collapse. More reliable measurements, such as snow pits
and shear tests, will help you predict more accurately how stable or unstable
the snowpack is.
Snowpits
Shear tests
From the vertical, uphill wall of the snowpit, separate a
column of snow without pulling it free from the wall. Insert a shovel at the
back, uphill side, of the column and gently pull on the handle. If weak layers
pull loose quite easily, the snowpack is very unstable. If it takes a few tugs
on the handle before any layers pull loose, the snowpack is slightly unstable. 
When conducting these tests throughout the day, pay
attention to the slope angle. Most avalanches occur on slopes between 30 and 45
degrees, but can occur on any slope angles given the right conditions. You can
measure the slope angle with an inclinometer, or you can "eyeball" it
by dangling a ski pole by the strap and estimating the angle. Layers that seem
strong on a 30-degree slope may be much weaker on a steeper slope. Also,
remember that the shear test relies on the pull of a shovel, not the weight of
a person. You can test this by standing or jumping on the uphill edge of the
snowpit, but only if you already know the snowpack is stable after conducting a
shear test.
Getting Caught in a
Slide
When you realize you are caught in a slide yell and try to let
go of ski poles and get out of your pack to make yourself lighter. Use
"swimming" motions, driving upward to try to stay near the surface of
the snow. When an avalanche comes to a stop the snow can set, and become as
hard as cement, and unless you are on the surface, it is almost impossible to
dig yourself out. If you are fortunate enough to end up near the surface, try
to stick out an arm or a leg so that rescuers can find you quickly.
If you are buried over your head, try to maintain an air
pocket in front of your face by punching the snow with your hands and arms.
Many avalanche deaths are caused by suffocation, so creating an air space is
one of the most critical things you can do. When an avalanche finally stops,
you may have only a few seconds before the snow sets and hardens, and it is
important to hold your breath before hand as you may not be able to breathe
after the snow compacts around you.
Above all, do not panic. Keeping your breathing steady will
help preserve your air space and extend your survival chances. If you remain
calm, your body will be better able to conserve energy.
Rescuing a Victim
If your partner, or someone you see gets caught in a slide,
try to watch the victim as they are carried down the slope, paying particular
attention to the point at which you last saw them. After the avalanche appears
to have finished and settled, wait a minute or two and observe the slope
carefully to make sure there is no further avalanche danger. If some danger
does still exist, post one member of your party in a safe location away from
the avalanche path to alert you if another avalanche falls.
Begin looking for clues on the surface beginning with the
point where they were last seen. As you move down the slope, kick over any
large chunks of snow that may reveal clues. Since equipment and items of
clothing may have been pulled away from a victim during an avalanche, they may
not indicate their exact location, but can help determine the direction the
avalanche carried them. Mark these spots as you come across them. Once the
victim is found, it is critical to unbury them as quickly as possible. Survival
chances decrease rapidly depending on how long a victim remains buried. Treat
them for any injuries, shock, or hypothermia if necessary.
For those using probes, begin at the point the victim was
last seen at, and stand in a straight line across the slope, standing shoulder
to shoulder. Repeatedly insert the probes as you move down slope in a line. Pay
particular attention to shallow depressions in the slope and the uphill sides
of rocks and trees, since these are terrain traps where they may have been
buried.
When venturing into the backcountry be sure to have all the
necessary equipment, check the local weather report, and notify the authorities
of where you will be going. Above all be safe and enjoy the places you’ve
worked so hard to get to.
5 Things to Keep in Mind When Backcountry
Skiing
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1
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Are there any signs of excessive wind loading on the slopes?
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2
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What have the weather conditions been like the past few days?
Any large snow falls?
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3
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Do you have a good sense of the snow pack and have you done
any snow pit or shear tests?
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4
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Have you noticed many fracture lines, heard
"thumping" or cracking sounds, or hollow noises in the snowpack?
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5
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Are you keeping an eye on the orientation and steepness of the
slopes as you cross them?
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