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If you put Avalanche awareness on your checklist every time BEFORE you ride, you will live to see another riding day.
There are eight steps to reducing your avalanche risk.
- GET SMART! The smart first step is to learn from the avalanche experts. This will take a commitment of
time and effort on your part. Divide the task into three parts. First, do some reading. Second, check out the videos on avalanche
safety. Third, take an avalanche course.
- UTILIZE YOUR RESOURCES:
- www.avalanche.org
- Sawtooth Nat'l Forest Avalanche Center (208) 622-8027
- Idaho Panhandle Nat'l Forests Avalanche Center (208) 765-7323
- Payette Nat'l Forest Avalanche Center (208) 634-0409
- IDENTIFY AVALANCHE TERRAIN: Avalanches run repeatedly year after year in the same areas--slopes
called avalanche paths. Avalanches most often start on slopes 30-45 degrees but sometimes start on slopes as shallow as 25
degrees and as steep as 50 degrees. Knowing the slope angle is "rule number one" in recognizing avalanche terrain, for once
slope angles reach 30 degrees, you are in potential avalanche terrain regardless of all other factors.
- READ NATURE'S SIGNS: Sometimes the snow shows clear and present danger signs of avalanche. Some signs
area a fresh avalanche, snow collapsing beneath you or creating noticeable cracks. Some weather signs that the hazard could
be worsening are fast and heavy snowfall--more than one inch per hour--or strong winds creating blowing snow and snow plumes
of the ridges. Keep observing and evaluating all day long. Keep asking yourself these four questions: Is the terrain
capable of producing an avalanche? Could the snow slide? Is the weather contributing to instability? Is there a safe route?
- TEST THE SNOW. Look for test slopes where you can dig snowpits and perform stress tests. A test slope
is a small steep slope--preferably 30 degrees or steeper--where you will not be in danger of causing an avalanche, but is
close to a larger slope you are concerned about. You can learn all about snowpits while attending Idaho Parks and Recreations
Avalanche awareness course.
- TRAVEL SMART. There are several rules of backcountry travel that will help to minimize your avalanche
risk.
- One at a time-Only one person at a time should to onto the slope.
- Avoid the center-The greatest danger of any steep slope comes when you are in the middle of it.
- Stay on shallow slopes-You can always travel on avalanche-free slopes up to 25 degrees.
- Never ride alone-
- TAKE YOUR PULSE. In other words, check your attitude. It can get you in trouble. Are you so goal-oriented--to
climb this peak or highmark that slope--that you are willing to take unwarranted risk? Do not overlook clear and present danger
signs! Do not fall into peer pressure! Are you letting haste or fatigue get you in trouble? To prevent accidents from happening,
you must control the human factor in your decision making. Know your limitations.
- BE READY FOR RESCUE. There are three parts to the rescue equation that will reduce your risk: what
equipment to carry, what to do if you are caught, and what to do if a friend is caught.
- Rescue Gear- a snow shovel, probe and an avalanche rescue beacon are the items that everyone who goes
into steep terrain should not be without.
- If you are caught-It's always best to avoid getting caught in the first place, for the speeds and
forces that avalanche victims are subject to can cause severe harm even if the group is prepared to rescue. Still though,
there are things you can do. Work to escape to the side, grab a tree, or swim with the moving snow. If you can't make it to
the surface, try to make (before the avalanche stops) an airspace in front of your face, which will give you breathing space.
If all goes well, your companions will find you quickly with their beacons, probes and shovels. STAY CALM!
- If a friend is caught-Watch the victim during descent. Go immediately to the last-seen area, search for
surface clues and search downhill from there. Turn your beacon to receive and pick up the signal. Do not abandon the
search or send searchers out for additional help: you are the buried victim's best chances for survival.
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