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Avalanches: safety and survival

Avalanches are rapid slides of snow and ice down mountain slopes. Most avalanche accidents are triggered by human activity, and survival depends on fast companion rescue within the first 15 minutes.

Do this now

  1. If caught in an avalanche: yell to alert others, attempt to swim or stay near the surface, and create an air pocket in front of your face before the snow stops moving.
  2. If witnessing an avalanche: watch the victim closely and mark the last seen point where they disappeared.
  3. Call local emergency search and rescue immediately.
  4. Turn all avalanche beacons to Search mode and begin companion search right away using an avalanche probe and shovel.

Essential avalanche safety gear

Anyone traveling in backcountry avalanche terrain should carry:

  • Avalanche Transceiver (Beacon): Electronic transmitter worn on the body under outer layers.
  • Collapsible Avalanche Probe: Long aluminum pole used to pinpoint a buried victim's location in snow.
  • Metal Avalanche Shovel: Sturdy shovel for digging out buried victims.
  • Airbag Pack: Inflatable pack that helps keep skiers near the snow surface during a slide.

What to do if you are caught in an avalanche

  • Yell loudly: Signal to your companions where you are.
  • Discard skis and poles: Heavy equipment can pull you under the snow like anchors.
  • Swim aggressively: Use a swimming motion with your arms and kick your legs to stay near the top layer of moving snow.
  • Create an air pocket: As the avalanche slows, place your arm across your face and cup your hands in front of your mouth and nose to form an air chamber before the snow sets like concrete.

Companion rescue steps (The 15-minute window)

A buried victim has an 80 percent survival rate if dug out within 15 minutes. After 30 minutes, survival drops drastically due to asphyxiation.

  1. Verify scene safety: Check that no secondary avalanches are starting.
  2. Switch all beacons to Search: Ensure nobody's beacon remains in transmit mode.
  3. Signal search: Move systematically downhill from the last seen point in a grid pattern.
  4. Pinpoint with probe: Once the beacon distance reading is under 2 meters (6 feet), insert the probe perpendicular to the snow slope until you strike the victim.
  5. Shovel strategically: Dig downhill from the probe pole to clear snow away from the victim's head and airway first.

... note "Backcountry education" Check local avalanche forecast centers before traveling in winter mountains. Taking a hands-on avalanche safety course (such as AIARE or equivalent mountain safety certificates) is essential for backcountry recreation.