SAFETY
Avalanche lessons learned
It's important to know the facts and stay safe
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A DEADLY FORCE: Snowmobilers today can access serious avalanche country, a this photo, taken in Alberta's Bow Valley, illustrates. Safety courses are a must.
—photo by Clair Israelson |
It's been said that the only good that comes out of a preventable accident are the lessons learned. When it comes to avalanches, Doug Chabot, director of Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center (www.mtavalanche.com) has learned the lessons. He's the guy who studies avalanches and their impactrs on people.
"Even after many years of going to accident scenes, I still walk away with a feeling of humbleness because deep down I know I'm not immune," Chabot said. "I look at the bodies, read the stores and think, "It could have been me."
As tragic as these accidents are, there's always a nugget of useful information for the living. Here are three snowmobile-related avalanches from last season and the lessons they teach us.
December 16, 2007
In the seven days leading up to the accident more than four feet of snow fell near Cooke City, Montana, with strong winds. A North Dakota man and two others were highmarking the same slope at the same time when his sled got stuck. A person from another party rode up to help and triggered the slide, which killed one person. The victim was dug up in 18 minutes under seven feet of debris. He and his partners had rescue gear.
LESSONS:
• Know the history of the snow pack. Four feet of snow with strong winds is a red flag that avalanche danger is likely.
• Check ou tthe avalanche advisory. In the morning's advisory officials rated the danger as HIGH, which means riders would likely trigger a slide.
• Only place one person at a time on a slope.
December 28, 2006
Eight family and friends from Minnesota were riding in the backcountry near West Yellowstone. Fourteeen inchese of snow with strong winds fell during the prior 48 hours. They were riding in a line at the bottom of a steep slope when they triggered the slide. Most of the party was either protected by the trees or was out of the path. One person was only partially buried, but one was completely buried under three feet of snow. No one had rescue gear, but they located and dug out the victim in just five minutes. Unfortunately he died of asphyxiation.
LESSONS:
• An avalanche can be triggered from far away if the snow if unstable.
• They failed to recognize they were in avalanche terrain. Even a flat trail attached to a steeper slope can trigger a slide.
• A quick reaction is critical. To have a 95 per cent chance of saving someone who has been buried, you must find and dig them out within 15 minutes.
February 17, 2007
Three experienced sledders rode into Montana's Big Belt Mountains. After discussing the likely dangerous conditions, they chose to ride a steep slope anyway. All three were on the slop when it released. No one in the party had rescue gear and the lone survivor was unable to locate his friends. Two died.
LESSONS:
• One person a time on the slope may have only resulted in one fatality instead of two.
• There's no substitte for carrying rescue gear. In a big avalanche, transceivers are the only way to locate a buried partner in the 15-minute window.
If you're playing in avalanche terrain you owe it to yourself and your family to get educated. A great first step is an online tutorial developed by the Canadian Avalanche Association at http://access.jibc.bc.ca/avalancheFirstResponse/index.htm.
Source: Pride magazine
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