Trip Report

_________________________________

The Tour Guide Community

One of my favorite things about being a naturalist guide is, by far, access to other tour guides. Our little exclusive club consists of some of the most intriguing, knowledgeable, and dedicated folks I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Although I may not be an expert in all things outdoors, there is a good chance I know someone who is!

So when an opportunities arise to engage in free naturalist and survivalist workshops hosted by someone in the guide network, you know I’m in. These gatherings dole out invaluable information straight from the mouths of experts; and I am here to share it with you!

Most recently, I was able to participate in a two-day avalanche awareness workshop hosted by Matt Wilber, a seasoned ski patroller and avalanche rescuer for Loveland Ski Resort, located less than an hour from Denver, Colorado.

^{Matt Wilber instructs our group at Loveland Ski Area, Colorado. Photo credit: Christian Hundley}

Matt has been studying ‘snow science’ and working as a ski patroller for over a decade. He has witnessed, caused, endured, and rescued people from countless avalanches in the Colorado backcountry– and loves it! Although our workshop was an intensive two-day experience– including a 4am trip to 11,000 ft– I’ll try to condense and cover his major points here. Read on for potentially life-saving tips!

Avalanche Survival Basics

Where Do Avalanches Occur?

According to Matt, avalanches can occur almost anywhere we would colloquially call ‘the mountains’; in Colorado, that includes what we call ‘the foothills,’ too. Even the relatively gentle slopes behind Red Rocks can harbor potential avalanches!

But of course, risk increases with the size and elevation of mountains. Higher elevations are more dangerous simply because they experience snow storms more often. In fact, Colorado, as the highest elevation state in the U.S. and most popular choice for winter recreation, experiences the highest number of yearly avalanche fatalities of any state!

Matt suggests using local avalanche information websites to check conditions before heading into the mountains. Importantly, he says, check the morning of your trip– avalanche conditions are incredibly sensitive and can change drastically over night. Do not rely on the previous day’s forecast!

Colorado mountain enthusiasts can check out forecasts released by the Colorado Information Center, but similar websites are available for other states.

The Avalanche Danger Scale

How do you know when it is safe to play out in the backcountry? Avalanche danger is catalogued in five categories, ranging from low to extreme. The danger of each potential avalanche is determined by likelihood, size, and distribution of avalanche zones. As an example, let’s look at today’s forecast for Aspen, Colorado:

As you can see, avalanche zones are split into elevational categories. Generally, the lower elevations below the tree line (~11,000 ft. in Colorado) tend to be safer than higher elevations. This is because warmer temperatures reduce snow occurrence and because trees tend to block slow from sliding downslope.

That isn’t the case for Aspen today. All elevations in the region are rated at a moderate (yellow) danger. Does this mean the backcountry is safe?

Absolutely not.

According to Matt, the color grading of this scale can be misleading. Typically, he says, we associate yellow with caution, but do not always treat the situation with caution. To drive home the point, he asked our group a simple question: “How many of you speed up when faced with a yellow light?”

Ashamed, many of us raised our hands. Would you?

Matt says that many people apply the same logic to a moderate avalanche danger rating– registering the situation as potentially risky, but unlikely to lead to disaster. Although a yellow, moderate rating may mean an avalanche is not likely to happen, it still means it can. The problem with avalanches, Matt says, is that once they happen, they are disasterous.

Think of it this way– we all know the risk of running a yellow light. It is possible that such a thing might result in death, but if an accident does happen, it will likely be a minor incident– A bumper touch, maybe. Running a ‘yellow light’ on the avalanche danger scale, however, will almost certainly lead to death. You will be trapped and dragged down the mountain. If you are unable to help yourself and rescue is more that 15 minutes away, you will suffocate. It is more akin to running a yellow street light when you know there is a semi speeding 80 mph in your direction.

The lesson? If the danger scale shows anything but green, stick to the front country. As Matt says, 90% of surviving an avalanche is knowing when to avoid the risk.

Real-time Signs of Avalanche Danger

Regardless of the morning’s report, it is good to be aware signs that an avalanche may occur near you. Matt says that this is a complicated science, but offers three main signs to watch out for:

1. Drastic Changes in Slope or Aspect: If a mountain side exhibits a complex topography, it may be prone to an avalanche. For example, on a mountain range with generally rolling hills, deep valleys with steep slopes will likely harbor some risk of loose snow pack, and therefore, avalanche danger. Or, if a west-facing slope abruptly meets a north-facing slope, the area under the junction is likely unsafe.
2. Hard Snow Over Soft Snow: Take the time to test the snow in front of you, especially in deep ravines. If the snow is hard and crunchy on the surface but powdery a foot or so below, you may be in trouble. Instability in this underlying soft snow can cause a sheet of hard top snow to slide down the mountain, almost like a boat down a waterfall.
3. Lack of Trees: Trees act as to stabilize snowpack. In areas without vegetation, snow is much likelier to slide down the mountain.

In general, Matt preaches this rule of thumb to avid skiers and snowboarders: If a slope looks like a gnarly shred, it is likely at risk for avalanche. Risk and reward, folks!

What Gear Can Keep Me Safe?

Matt stresses that surviving an avalanche is about preparation. Beyond awareness of danger ratings, this involves a proper gear kit.

But let’s be clear: there are a limited number of item you can carry to keep yourself safe. The best way to ensure survival during an avalanche is to travel with a partner who is also carries the proper gear. Never travel the backcountry alone.

Matt suggests two primary items to keep yourself safe:

1. An emergency transmitter/receiver
2. An avalanche airbag

Emergency Transmitter/Receiver

Avalanche transmitters, sometimes called beacons, are your best chance of surviving an avalanche. These devices can be activated at the start of a backcountry expedition, and continue to transmit your location until turned off. Nearby devices will receive your location. Note that this requires two devices to be useful in any capacity– everyone in your group should have one. This is because suffocation under the snow can occur within 5-15 minutes– in that time frame, your only hope of rescue lies in those who came with you. A rescue team in very unlikely to reach you within the required time.

You can purchase Matt’s recommended Mammut device here.

Avalanche Airbags

Avalanche airbags can be life-savers, but are very expensive, usually at least $600. They work because, in terms of physics, avalanche snow operates very similarly to sand sifters. Large objects rise to the top! By expanding your body’s surface area with an air bag, you can force the snow to push you near the surface, where survival is far more viable. The air bag also serves as protection for your head, keeping you conscious and alive if you happen to ram into a rock or tree.

Matt emphasizes that avalanche air bags are usually only used by ski patrollers, because if you expect to be in danger of an avalanche enough that you need one, you probably shouldn’t have gone out anyway.

Check out this short video of an avalanche airbag in action near Montezuma, CO, by Backcountry Access. Notice how the snowboarder floats to the surface of the snow:

You can purchase a reliable airbag from REI here.

How Can I Keep My Friends Safe?

^{Our instructor wields a ‘snow saw’ while explaining his rescue gear. Photo credit: Christian Hundley}

Most of the avalanche safety gear available is for assisting others– this is why it is so important to travel the snowy backcountry in groups. Here is a quick and dirty list of Matt’s minimal rescue gear:

1. Transmitter/beacon (above): This can be switched to receiver mode if a friend is caught in an avalanche, and can help pinpoint a stuck friend within a few minutes.
2. Avalanche Probe: A collapsible pole 7-9 ft. in length. This can be used to test snow for stability– generally, you want to feel a layer of hard snow under soft snow, not the other way around. It can also be used to probe avalanche debris; here, you’d be looking for a pocket of air in the soft snow which contains your friend. Example product here.
3. Snow Shovel: A good snow shovel should be lightweight and collapsible. This is an absolutely necessary tool, as digging out a buried friend quickly enough may be impossible otherwise. Matt’s preferred shovel can be purchased from REI here.
4. Snow Saw: A snow saw can be handy for penetrating hard ice. Because large objects float to the surface, you may run into large chunks ice which block access to a compromised friend. Example product here.

Shoveling Techniques

According to Matt, proper shoveling technique in the wake of an avalanche can mean the difference between life or death. There are many techniques, each with their own supporters, but Matt and his team at Loveland Ski Resort prefer a sort of ’round robin’ approach. For this, a team of four operates in unison, with two shoveling to break through to the victim and two others clearing discarded snow from the area.

It is important to reach the trapped victim as soon as possible so that oxygen can reach their lungs; often, this takes a crucial balance of exertion and rest. This format– with two people at the front and two at the back, switching between roles– allows each rescuer something of a break while they removed discarded snow. Those in the front decide when they need a break, yelling, “Switch!” when they’ve been exhausted to the point of slowing down. Each in the foursome rotates position, clockwise, as that point.

^{We were given several collapsible avalanche shovels to practice our techniques. Photo credit: Christian Hundley}

Those at the front should dig while facing up-mountain and forward. This is the most direct line to the trapped person. So long as they have not been physically injured by debris, the victim should be safe once the ‘ice mask’ has been penetrated.

Matt says that their teams aim to break the seal within five minutes. This can be extremely difficult and often takes more physical activity and coordination than you might imagine. He stresses that a familiarity with your shovel and proper rescue techniques are crucial to success– whichever method you choose, be sure you are familiar with it before you find yourself in a life or death situation!

The Role of Explosives

With such a deadly threat to winter recreators and an emphasis on incident avoidance, it should come as no surprise that ski patrollers work hard to eliminate the threat of avalanches where they can. In popular areas like Loveland Ski Resort, people like Matt make a mission of seeking out– and destroying– these threats.

Before each ski season (and sometimes, throughout it), ski patrollers like Matt locate avalanche prone sites and trigger them, purposefully, with explosives. With everyone safely cleared away from the avalanche zone, this allows them to cause disaster in order to prevent disaster!

Conclusions

My main take away from Matt’s workshop was this: Recreating in the winter mountain backcountry is a beautiful and satisfying experience, but a dangerous one. Risk of death by avalanche, while rare, is serious. But with the proper preparation, training, gear, and expectation, most deadly incidents can be avoided.

^{8 degree F weather made this trip rough, but worth Matt’s invaluable guidance! Photo credit: Christian Hundley}

Although Matt loves to spread his knowledge on backcountry winter safety, he stresses that true safety and awareness comes with dedicated training. Even my two-day workshop was meant as an introduction to the subject, not a replacement for intensive training! Please be aware that although the tips provided in this article may be helpful, they do not replace dedicated education. Matt recommends that all serious backcountry winter explorers take an in-person avalanche safety and awareness course before heading out!

^{Special thanks to Christian Hundley for photos.}