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Avalanche Safety

Avalanche Safety . Team Avalanche. Statistics. Avalanches are at greatest risk to occur 24 hours after a foot of snowfall. Avalanches occur at 35-50 degrees. Avalanches are the cause of over 150 deaths per year.

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Avalanche Safety

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  1. Avalanche Safety Team Avalanche

  2. Statistics • Avalanches are at greatest risk to occur 24 hours after a foot of snowfall. • Avalanches occur at 35-50 degrees. • Avalanches are the cause of over 150 deaths per year. • The collapsing snow can move at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour in about 5 seconds. You cannot out run them!!! • The most common type, and the deadliest of avalanches, is the slab avalanche (“strong” dense snow on top of “weak” light snow.

  3. More Statistics • There is a 92% chance of survival if the buried victim is found within 15 minutes. • That drops to 30% at 35 minutes and just 3% at a little over 2 hours • One half of completely buried victims die within the first half-hour • Only one third of avalanche victims die from trauma. The other two thirds die from suffocation • Only 2% of victims live long enough to die from hypothermia • The average avalanche burial is 4-5 feet down

  4. How to be Safe • Don’t go off trail! • But if you do…. • Bring proper gear • Check weather conditions • Go with a group • Watch each other closely

  5. More Safety Tips • Call avalanche hotline on day of trip to check stats or check website • Cross high-risk areas one at a time • Better to have one victim with many rescuers than many victims and one rescuer • Have an escape plan in mind

  6. What Is the IDEAL Gear? • Tracker Beacon • Airbag Backpack • Inclinometer/Slope Meter (varying ‘degrees’ of safety!) • Probe • Food Supplies • Shovel • Warmth (jacket, extra gloves)

  7. Warning Signs • Cracking or collapsing snow • Hollow drum-like sounds on hard snow • Heavy snowfall or rain in the past 24 hours • Wind blown snow • Drastic temperature increase • Weak snow layers

  8. Myths • Loud noises trigger avalanches, e.g. sonic booms or low-flying helicopters • Fact: only extremely loud noises (e.g. explosions) • Avalanches are just made of loose snow sliding down a mountain • Fact: these are called “sluffs” and only account for a very small percentage • Avalanches occur without warning • Fact: look for the warning signs; avalanches happen for a particular reason

  9. Avalanche Danger Rating

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