How to Avoid an Avalanche

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By CM Herold
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Avoid Avalanche

Avalanches can happen anywhere where there is snow lying on sloped land. Every year there are accidents and fatalities from avalanches. As high as 90% of avalanches are triggered by their victims. To avoid avalanches, follow these steps.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Step 1

The best way to avoid an avalanche is to check the surface of the snow. If it appears rough and uneven it's probably safe. If you see snow that is smooth and has a rounded slope where gusts of snow may have been packed on, it's probably not safe and you should avoid the area. It's possible there could be an avalanche.
Step 2

Climbing under cornices should be avoided especially during snowstorms. In general convex slopes are more dangerous than uniform or concave slopes. Avoid lee slopes after storms and heavy drifting. It's important to educate yourself to avoid an avalanche.
Step 3

To avoid an avalanche, check for snow an avalanche reports. If there are any warnings, make sure to avoid the areas. Never ski off marked slopes. If snow build-up has been heavy, avoid going out.
Step 4

If you're caught in an avalanche, keep you mouth closed to avoid choking. To stay on top of the avalanche, make swimming motions. When the avalanche starts to slow down, thrust your hand above the surface. If you are buried, spit saliva out of your mouth. Notice the direction your spit falls. Your spit will fall downward.

Comments

backcountryski said

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on 11/13/2009 These are TERRIBLE instructions. I would NEVER judge the safety of a snowpack based on whether it looks smooth or rough. Before you travel in the snow, you really need to take a class- http://www.avalanche.org/ or at least read a book on avalanche safety. Snowsense is a really easy read and will give you a basic understanding of how to travel safely in avalanche terrain.

Some good rules of thumb (since this post seems to be all about oversimplification) are:

1. Stay on ridges, not in valleys
2. avoid terrain that is steeper than 20 degrees
3. Trees are usually, but not always safer than open areas
4. it is possible to trigger an avalanche from a flat meadow at the base of a steep hill.

Use caution!

eliptica said

on 2/21/2009 I used to live in utah and they had alot of avalanches during the winter to spring season. Thanks for the great article.

blondehound said

on 1/27/2009 how to avoid an unavoidable, thanks, 5

cherold598 said

on 1/26/2009 If a person is buried in snow, he or she may not know which way is up. So if the person spits, it will be obvious which way is up. Thanks for the comment. :)