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Avalanche Safety

Avalanche Safety. jae H. Roh jhroh@alum.mit.edu Winter School 2002. staying alive:. avoid getting caught in an avalanche (recognize and avoid avalanche zones) if you get caught make it easy for others to find you (use a beacon) once you're found, get dug out (carry a shovel). How to die.

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Avalanche Safety

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  1. Avalanche Safety jae H. Roh jhroh@alum.mit.edu Winter School 2002

  2. staying alive: • avoid getting caught in an avalanche (recognize and avoid avalanche zones) • if you get caught make it easy for others to find you (use a beacon) • once you're found, get dug out (carry a shovel)

  3. How to die • Physical trauma • Suffocation by ice mask

  4. avalanche dynamics: • terrain • Snowpack evolution • precipitation/weather • trigger - i.e. you!

  5. equipment • inclinometer • Beacons – practice using it! • shovels • probes - (body recovery) • (avalung)

  6. Recognizing Avalanche terrain • 30-45 degrees • open slopes • gullies • open stands of trees

  7. White Mountains avalanche territory • Mt. Washington Ravines, Huntington's, Tuckermans • Gulf of Slides • Other areas

  8. Getting Avalanche Forecasts • USFS Avalanche reports • http://www.mountwashington.org/avalanche/ • also posted at Pinkham Notch • USFS Snow Ranger • (603) 466-2713 • Today on Mount Washington • Tuckermans: Considerable • Huntingtons: Moderate

  9. Avalanche Hazard Ratings • LOW • MODERATE • CONSIDERABLE • HIGH • EXTREME

  10. Obvious signs of avalanche danger are: • Cornices • Fracture lines • Audible "whump" or other settling sounds sound • Feeling a settling or shifting of the slope • Fresh avalanche activity • Unstable layers in snowpack • Dig snow pits, shovel test, ski test

  11. If you must cross an avalanche slope: • Cross one at a time and watch each other carefully • Ski from one island of safety to the next • Close up clothing and undo pack straps • Remove pole wrist loops, safety straps, and loosen bindings

  12. If you get caught in an avalanche • You must rescue yourselves! • DO NOT just go for help – it won’t come in time. • Buried victims have 20 minutes tops • If your buddy is caught • mark where you last saw them • do quick visual search. anything poking out of the snow? • Begin search down hill

  13. Learning More • Books • Snow Sense • ABCs of Avalanche Safety • Videos • Courses • Offered by SOLO, others

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