Winter play can be deadly
Logan residents who look outside between November and February are likely to see one of Mother Nature’s deadliest weapons – snow. “Avalanches are not soft fluffy snow. They can pack a punch,” said Toby Weed, avalanche forecaster and director of the Logan branch of the Utah Avalanche Forest Center. The goal of the UAFC is to “help keep people on top of the ‘Greatest Snow on Earth’ instead of buried beneath it.” The risk of being caught in an avalanche is a very real, especially if you participate in winter sports. Weed said there are three choices when it comes to avalanches. The first choice is to, “roll the dice and gamble with your life,” Weed said. Recreating in the backcountry, areas outside of ski boundaries where there is no avalanche control, without the knowledge or training needed can increase the chances of an avalanche, he said. According to an annual report sent out by the UFAC, 92 percent of people killed in avalanches since 1985 have been very skilled in their sport. Weed also said 93 percent of avalanche victims are male, and most think they know a lot more about avalanches than they really do. The second choice is to avoid avalanche terrain all together, he said. In order to do that, people must know what avalanche terrain is. Weed said any snow covered slope steeper than 35 degrees may avalanche. Weed said the third choice is to gain the knowledge that could possibly save your life. The UAFC found in more than 95 percent of avalanche fatalities, the avalanche was triggered by the victim or someone in the victim’s party – meaning 95 percent of avalanches can be avoided. Backcountry recreators need to have up-to-date information before heading out, Weed said. Recorded avalanche advisories and weather forecasts are available daily through the UAFC, Weed said. They can be accessed by recorded telephone messages at 435-797-4146 and on the internet at www.avalanche.org. Weed said the belief avalanches are caused by noise is untrue. Avalanches are triggered by the addition of weight, or offsetting the equilibrium of the snow pack, he said. Groups should always travel one at a time across avalanche terrain, while the rest of the group waits at a safe location, he said. Weed said 25 percent of all people killed in avalanches die of trauma and are dead before the avalanche is over. If they don’t die of trauma, Weed said, they die from the carbon dioxide building up in their breathing space. The UAFC report states nearly twice as many snowmobilers have been killed in avalanches as any other user group, followed by climbers and backcountry skiers. Advances in snowmobile power including weight reduction and traction systems have allowed snowmobiles to access dangerous avalanche terrain right after storms, allowing them to go virtually anywhere. Because 99 percent of avalanches occur in the backcountry, it’s no wonder than snowmobilers are at the greatest risk, he said. In addition, a snowmobile can cover 100 times the amount of terrain as a skier, which also puts them at greater risk. The best thing to do if caught in an avalanche is to fight. Ski areas and highway avalanche control crews knock down avalanches with explosives every morning before the public arrives. Less than 1 percent of avalanche fatalities have involved general public on open runs at ski areas or on open highways. “If you are in a snowmobile, ride up,” Weed said, “[The avalanche] will slow down, and come to a stop like concrete.” It is important to create airspace and not to let it overcome you, he said. Weed said avalanches are pretty brutal, and “like car accidents, the idea is to avoid them.” Weed said it is estimated more than 100 natural avalanches have occurred in the Logan area between Jan. 8 and Jan. 11, 2005, setting the record for the biggest avalanche cycle since 1986. These avalanches occur in backcountry areas most people never see. “Avalanches are complex,” Weed said, “but they aren’t rocket science. The Outdoor Recreation Center offers avalanche courses to cover the basic avalanche skills to keep students safe. The next avalanche basic course will be taught by Toby Weed and held Feb. 3 and 5 at the ORC. The avalanche course is $30 for USU students and $35 for others. This fee includes in class and field instruction and experiences. The class is held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 3 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 5. Erin Langenheim, an employee of the ORC said in addition to offering the avalanche class, the staff is aware of avalanche conditions before every trip. Langenheim said the trip leaders also have the opportunity to teach the students about avalanche safety as they go along on excursions. More people access the UAFC bulletin each session than any other avalanche advisory in North America, Weed said. The UAFC says they try to “preach the avalanche gospel” as much as possible to the media through radio and television to get the word out.-eippetts@cc.usu.edu