Rocky Mountain Region

U.S. Forest Service
Rocky Mountain Region
740 Simms St
Golden, CO 80401
303-275-5350

TTD ⁄ TTY
303-275-5367

Web Story

U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region

740 Simms Street
Golden, CO 80401

Early Avalanche Season Prompts Safety Reminders

By Gwen Ernst–Ulrich, Rocky Mountain Region (303–275–5348)

(December 2008)–Every year hundreds of avalanches occur in the Rocky Mountain Region´s mountainous areas. Already this year several avalanches have happened, and avalanche danger is high even though it is early in the season. Being caught in an avalanche can result in death or serious injury.

An average of 28 people die annually in the United States from avalanches. Until Hurricane Katrina, avalanches killed more people in America than any other natural disaster. Last winter avalanches killed a record number of people in the United States, and 95 percent of those accidents involved people engaged in recreational activities such as skiing, snowmobiling, snowboarding, and climbing.

In 95 percent of avalanche accidents, the victim or a companion triggers the slide. White River National Forest Snow Ranger Don Dressler advises people to learn to identify the conditions that lead to avalanches to avoid triggering them. He said avalanche basics are a must for anyone planning to enjoy winter recreation in the mountains.

Keep the following in mind when traveling in the winter backcountry:

• Recent avalanches are the best indicator of avalanche danger.
• Most avalanches occur on slopes from 30–45 degrees.
• Sustained winds increase the danger of an avalanche on leeward slopes.
• Rapid accumulation of snow, rapid temperature changes, or rain on new snow will increase the avalanche danger.
• “Whoompfing” sounds or shooting cracks are other avalanche–danger clues.
• When in suspect terrain, travel one at a time from one island of safety to another.
• It is safer to travel on the windward side of ridges away from cornices or on low–angle slopes without steeper slopes directly above you.
• Carry, know how to use, and practice with the backcountry essentials: avalanche transceiver, shovel, and probe.

The Forest Service works closely with those operating ski areas on National Forest System land to ensure public safety. Snow rangers and winter sports administrators monitor ski areas to ensure operating plans are followed as well as to maintain familiarity with areas within their districts. Ski areas work to keep skiers safe by conducting on–the–ground avalanche monitoring activities and closing areas as appropriate as well as using explosives to safely trigger inevitable avalanches before they cause accidents.

One recent slide incident involved a skier who had entered a closed area. Dressler urges people to observe closures. “A closure takes place because the ski area has identified increased avalanche danger in that area,” said Dressler. “Anyone ignoring a closure is at high risk for an avalanche accident.”

According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, there have already been two avalanche–related fatalities in the 2008–09 season nation–wide, one of which took place in Colorado. Colorado historically leads the nation in avalanche–related fatalities, averaging six per year over the last ten years.

“We´re currently in a situation where avalanche danger is elevated across the West. Early–season snow created a weak base for later significant snowfalls.” said Avalanche Scientist Karl Birkeland with the Forest Service National Avalanche Center.

For more avalanche information, go to the U.S. Forest Service National Avalanche Center Web site at http://www.fsavalanche.org or the Colorado Avalanche Information Center Web site at http://avalanche.state.co.us.