Avalanche Safety Tips

Snowmobile safety

 

Be Prepared:

* Plan a trip (difficulity, length, dangerous exposure) that takes into consideration current conditions, people's interest, skills, terrain, and other hazards.

*Ensure group members have proper avalanche safety training.
IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.

*Carry survival equipment in your backpack NOT ON SLED.

*Obtain latest conditions from avalanche.org and/or avalanche.ca

*Test the transceivers transmit and receive functions at home.

*Ensure all transceivers are on transmit before leaving the trucks for the ride.

 

Route Slection. It's up to you - to know before you go:

++ Travel low angle slope, heavily treed areas, ridges and broad valley bottoms to avoid avalanche paths.

++ If you choose to ride an avalanche slope minimize your risk.

++ Avoid slopes with excess wind loaded snow.

++ Learn the significance of wind, sun, shade and terrain shape on avalanche danger.

++ Be aware of escape routes and safe stop areas.

++ Avoid terrain traps or terrain features that can:

*** Increase the depth of buriel

Gullies
Steep transition area
Sharp valleys
Creek beds
Walls or ridges crossing natural paths

 

***Decrease the chance for escape

Gullies
Crevasses
Open water

***Increase the chance of injury

Cliffs
Rocks and trees in avalanche path

 

Keep in contact:

* Always ride in a group
* Maintain constant visual contact at all times.
* Cross suspect slopes one at a time.
* Use hand signals for "Avalanche path.....Spead out"
* Listen to concerns of all the group members.

 

Snowmobile Habits:

* Park in safe areas, point to safer areas (Escape Route)
* Kill Switch up.
* Allow the snow to settle after a storm.
* Test (track up) small slopes with consequences.
* test slopes using wide, fast passes before placing yourself in commitment terrain.

* Make sure that only one machine is on the slope at any time, even if your buddy is stuck.

* DONT NOT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN; slopes can avalanche even after mutiple passes.

 

If you are caught in an avalanche try to:

* Call out, draw attention to yourself
* React fast, attempt to ride out of slide.
* If no longer in control, seperate yourself from your snowmobile.
* FIGHT HARD with swimming motions, trying to stay on top of snow and get to the side.

* Grab trees, rocks, ect. to avoid being tumbled down the slope.
* Keep your mouth closed and your teeth clenched.

 

When the avalanche slows, try to:

* Use your hands to create airspace in front of your face.

* Wiggle to make airspace around your body.

* Thurst an arm to the surface.

*Once the avalanche stops the snow sets up like concrete.

 

When Avalanche stops, Try TO:

++ Remain calm.

++ Control your breathing to conserve your oxygen, relax

++ Shout only when resuers are very near (sound does not travel well within the snow pack)

 

Searching for a Victim

someone take charge.

* Take a moment to organize the rescue
* consider the possibility of another avalanche before attempting a rescue. Set an escape route and post a lookout if necessary.

* Look for surface clues; a hand, hat , glove, ect.

* note last seen point of the victim(s).

 

Search with beacons:

* Ensure all rescuers beacons are swtiched to receive.

* Spead out at 100 foot/30 meters intervals to cover the debris.

* Don't litter slope with rescuers belongings.

* Search around and downhill of any clues.

* When a signal is picked up assign one or two people to locate it whil others continue the search.

* Pinpoint the signal to a small radius, then probe to fins victim.

* Without removing probe, quickly dig out victim.

* Turn the vicims beacon to reveive if others are still buried.