TRAVELING SAFELY IN THE BACKCOUNTRY BOILS DOWN TO TWO FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS:
- Minimize your exposure to avalanche terrain.
- Limit exposure to avalanche danger to one person at a time.
While traveling, adhere to these principles by:
- Always choosing the safest possible route. Stick to low angle ridges and dense trees.
- If you must expose multiple people, stay well spread out.
- Be careful riding in creek bottoms or drainages with steep sides that could avalanche.
- Avoid stopping in or beneath avalanche paths.
While highmarking or climbing steep hills:
- Always highmark ONE AT A TIME. Other riders should watch the climber
from a safe spot in thick trees or out of the runout zone.
- NEVER ride up a potential avalanche slope to help a rider get unstuck.
Many snowmobilers have killed their partners when they were trying to help.
Next Section: Avalanche Rescue »
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Highmarking Checklist:
- Have avalanche rescue gear?
- Good snow stability?
- Partners in a safe spot?
- Have a good line picked?
- What will you do if it slides??
Safe Travel also has to do with your ATTITUDE:
- Stay alert to changing snow stability due to differences in aspect, elevation, or
weather factors.
- Avoid being overly goal oriented - have options.
- Make sure your group communicates well.
- Is your group prepared to do a rescue?
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