Avalanche Safety

Avalanche SafetyTeam 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.

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.

More StatisticsThere 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 hoursOne half of completely buried victims die within the first

half-hourOnly one third of avalanche victims die from trauma. The

other two thirds die from suffocationOnly 2% of victims live long enough to die from hypothermiaThe average avalanche burial is 4-5 feet down

How to be SafeDon’t go off trail!But if you do….

Bring proper gearCheck weather conditionsGo with a groupWatch each other closely

More Safety TipsCall avalanche hotline on day of trip to check

stats or check websiteCross 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

What Is the IDEAL Gear? Tracker Beacon Airbag Backpack Inclinometer/Slope Meter

(varying ‘degrees’ of safety!) Probe Food Supplies Shovel Warmth (jacket, extra gloves)

Warning SignsCracking or collapsing snowHollow drum-like sounds on hard snowHeavy snowfall or rain in the past 24 hoursWind blown snowDrastic temperature increaseWeak snow layers

MythsLoud noises trigger avalanches, e.g. sonic

booms or low-flying helicoptersFact: only extremely loud noises (e.g. explosions)

Avalanches are just made of loose snow sliding down a mountainFact: these are called “sluffs” and only account for

a very small percentageAvalanches occur without warning

Fact: look for the warning signs; avalanches happen for a particular reason

Avalanche Danger Rating