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FAQ's and Tips

Backcountry safety tips and questions

1. Is there any avalanche danger scale that is used for assessing the avalanche danger?
Yes, there is an avalanche danger scale that is used nationally and internationally for evaluating and communicating the avalanche danger to the greater public. See avalanche danger scale. [ top ]

2. Do I need avalanche (safety or rescue) training?
Everybody that accesses the backcountry on a regular basis should have some avalanche training. Whether you take some avalanche training courses or you learn from your more experienced friends all that is good. Once the basic skills are in place you should follow up with regular practice sessions.
Remember, around 90% of successful rescues are done by a member of your party, your friend. There is a little chance that someone else will help you, so, practice. [ top ]

3. How can I practice avalanche rescue or sharpen my avalanche safety skills?
Firstly, you can learn a lot thru reading from appropriate source.
Secondly, once in a while go to back country with more experienced fellow and observe.
Lastly, you can practice your victim searching right in the backcountry. You need at least two transceivers, a probe, and a shovel. Find a safe spot where you are not exposed to any or very little danger and ask one of the group members to go and dig one transceiver in the snow somewhere in the radius of 50m while you are having your eyes shut and your ears covered. (Remember to switch it to send mode or you might never see it again.)
Then start searching with the other transceiver until you find it within at least 2-2.5m. Then use a probe to locate the victim (beacon) more precisely. Then dig it out with the shovel.
Note that this is a very short description of such a rescue practice, check out back soon for the full version. Thanks. [ top ]

4. Are there any tests I can perform to assess avalanche danger?
Yes, there are a couple of tests that are used for assessing the avalanche danger and snow conditions that will give you pretty good feedback about what you are getting into. As we are still developing this section check back soon, please. Thanks. [ top ]

5.Can I go backcountry telemarking, snowboarding or skiing alone?
Yes, you can although it is not advised. Do so only if the conditions are very safe and you know the area very well otherwise rather wait for your friends. [ top ]

6. What are human triggered avalanches and naturally triggered avalanches?
Human triggered avalanches are the ones triggered by a skier or a party that went over an unstable snow terrain. These avalanches are the most dangerous for backcountry skiers since they often result in buried victims however they often do no harm and are somehow expected when triggered on shallow slopes with not a lot of new snow.
Naturally triggered avalanche are simply controlled by nature - the sun, the wind, the heat, the rain... These are the 99% of avalanches you see the most when back country skiing. And because they are controlled by the nature they can do sometimes the most damage such as wipe out roads, huts, even a parts of mountain villages. [ top ]

7. How long can I survive under the snow when buried by an avalanche?
Since there is no one we know of who tried it (although we are going to and will let you know) we have no accurate answer. Although the general sources are saying that you can last about 30-45min and that is already critical time there are individual cases when people survived up to two hours. It simply depends on conditions, skills and luck. [ top ]

8. What is avalanche safety gear and how it will help me?
The basic avalanche safety gear consists of an avalanche beacon, a probe, and a shovel. These three things can significantly improve chances of survival if someone from your party (equipped with this gear) gets buried by an avalanche and you and your friends know how to use this equipment.
To learn more about transceiver, probe, shovel, and how they work see other General and Avalanche safety gear Q's & A's. [ top ]

9. What signs might indicate avalanche danger?
Sudden weather changes that you can follow thru forecast might indicate that avalanche danger might be increasing.
Once in terrain, watch for any avalanche activity (whether triggered by people or naturally), blowing snow, warming temperatures, rain, and snowfall. Another very important indicator are cracks across the snow (whether short, long, small, or big).
Generally, avalanche danger increases if there is heavy snowfall or rain. Also blowing snow and sudden temperature changes all the way above zero Celsius degrees might indicate increasing avalanche danger. [ top ]

10. How do I choose a safe route for a trip?
Most importantly, everyone's opinion in the group should be considered and listen to because even the least experience member might spot things (such as cracks in the snow) that others might have missed but don't consider them important until he is asked about them.
Also consider slope incline (avalanches usually start on slopes over 35 degrees and rarely on slopes around 25 degrees and under).
Then windward slopes (slopes that face the recent wind) are usually safer than those that face the downwind (leeward slopes). These collect more wind-blown snow and are more likely to be triggered.
Slopes receiving intense sun might be unstable (mostly in the spring months or depends on the season).
Recently avalanched slopes indicate that slopes that face the same way might be unstable too.
Also an important thing to consider when choosing a safe route are terrain traps such as cliffs, depressions, little valleys, and creeks. These increase danger significantly because you might get carried over or be buried very deeply if caught by an avalanche in such terrain. [ top ]

11. What causes or triggers avalanches?
The most damaging avalanches that cause injuries or death are usually triggered by people, often by the victim or a member of the same party.
Natural avalanches are mostly triggered when slopes are loadded with additional snow. (If this is suspected you should practice an avalanche test and a snow profile test.) [ top ]

12. How should I deal with (possible) avalanche terrain?
If you consider a route you wanted to travel dangerous, avoid it.
If that isn't possible go one at a time with other members of the group carefully watching while you are on or below an avalanche slope (visual indications or signs increase chances of successful rescue if you get buried).
Choose a safe place (that's not exposed to avalanche) to stop after crossing such terrain before you do this procedure.
Important: unstrap you backpack, don't use ski pole's straps or binding safety straps, and put your jacket, hat and gloves on. [ top ]

13. What should I do if I get caught in avalanche?
If you see avalanche before it hits you try to get to the side of its possible path. If you get caught try to get rid of your backpack, skis and poles; try to grab trees or rocks before the speed picks up.
If all this fails try to fight (swim) to the side of the slide or to the surface of the avalanche.
Even if this fails and you are going to get buried use your hands to make an air-space in front of your face when the slide slows down thus increasing your chances of survival. [ top ]

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