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AVALANCHE AWARENESS

AVALANCHE AWARENESS. for Snowmobilers. climbers. 138. bc skiers. 130. lift skiers (ob). 58. lift skiers (ia). 24. snowboarders. 27. snowmobilers. 95. misc. recreation. 57. U.S. Avalanche Fatalities by Activity 1950/51 to 2000/01. climbers. 29. bc skiers. 31. lift skiers (ob).

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AVALANCHE AWARENESS

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  1. AVALANCHE AWARENESS for Snowmobilers

  2. climbers 138 bc skiers 130 lift skiers (ob) 58 lift skiers (ia) 24 snowboarders 27 snowmobilers 95 misc. recreation 57 U.S. Avalanche Fatalities by Activity1950/51 to 2000/01

  3. climbers 29 bc skiers 31 lift skiers (ob) 14 lift skiers (ia) 1 snowboarders 22 snowmobilers 73 misc. recreation 23 U.S. Avalanche Fatalities by Activity1993/94 to 2000/01

  4. TYPE OF RESCUE (US) 1950/51-1998/99

  5. With avalanches you have three choices… • Avoid avalanche terrain • Learn about avalanches, minimize your risks • Roll the dice (or pull the lever!)…

  6. POINT RELEASE aka SLUFFS

  7. SLAB AVALANCHE Starting zone Track Runout zone

  8. Slab Avalanche: • Crown face • Bed surface • Flanks • Stauchwall

  9. A slab is just a cohesive mass of snow

  10. Slab avalanches can propagate for long distances

  11. WET SLAB

  12. KEY FACTORS • Terrain • Weather • Snowpack • “Human Factors”

  13. TERRAIN Is the terrain capable of producing an avalanche?

  14. RECOGNIZING AVALANCHE TERRAIN Factors to consider: • Slope angle • Slope size and consequences • Slope shape • Vegetation/trees • Runout • Aspect w/respect to wind • Elevation

  15. 60 deg Slope Angles 45 deg 30 deg 15 deg 0 deg

  16. Slope Shape convexity concavity

  17. “Size doesn’t matter”

  18. Vegetation damage is a sure-fire indicator of avalanche terrain!

  19. Vegetation damage is also a helpful indicator of runout!

  20. TERRAIN TRAP!!

  21. INDEPENDENCE SLIDE, BIG TIMBER, MTFebruary 24, 2001

  22. 38° 36° 40° Trigger Point Burial Point

  23. 500 FOOT FRACTURE TRIGGER POINT 800 FOOT RUNNING DISTANCE BURIAL

  24. 2 TO 3 FEET DEEP

  25. CROWN FACE PROFILE DEPTH IN INCHES 43 32 6 4 0 NEW SNOW WIND SLAB NEAR-SURFACE FACETS CRUST RELATIVE HARDNESS

  26. Burial Point

  27. Victim was buried 5-6 feet deep!

  28. WEATHER Is the weather affecting the snow stability? • Snow and Rain • Wind • Temperature

  29. Wondering what the winter will be like?

  30. More Snow Equals More Avalanches!!

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