Surviving an Avalanche

Since avalanches are traveling at over 100 miles per hour, you have very few milliseconds to decide what action to take. The snow is coming down more fully and faster in the center of the fall, so moving to the side is definitely a good choice to avoid an avalanche disaster.

If you are being carried downhill, try to make swim strokes to keep from being buried alive.

If there is some object you are heading towards that you can grab onto, grab it. It may not keep you completely safe, but it can delay your continual movement down into the depths of an avalanche, which may result in less submersion in t he snow.

Remember that you can hear others better than they can hear you if you are buried alive. If you can create an air pocket but covering your mouth with your hand before being buried. This air pocket will bide you some time – not long mind you, but some time – about 30 minutes. Expand your chest by inhaling deeply before the snow settles, which gives you some room to breathe once submerged.

Believe it or not, urinating can help rescue animals locate you more quickly, so don’t be hesitant to do this if you need to.

If you are submerged, and have to try digging out, aim towards the light, if there is any. Check the direction your breath rises if you can see it rise, and start digging in that direction.

Avalanche gear:  The avalanche beacon or transceiver assists search and rescue teams to locate you and assists you in being located.  There is the analogue beacon or the digital beacons. For those comparing the two, keep in the mind the following: Digital  beacons are easier for newbies to the equipment when is comes to working them and learning how to use them.

Analogue beacons have longer battery life and have longer distances in search range. The battery strength is crucial to an effective beacon. There are beacons that switch from digital to analogue. The Ortovox M2 is supposed to be the best analog beacon in the world and has a myriad of features, including indicators of signal strength and more. The Ortovox M1 switches from analog to digital. The multiple burial search setting is found in the Pieps DSP. Remember that learning to use these prior to setting out is crucial, as they do not require just a simple switch to be familiar with their use. This transmitter will provide the electronic signal to help search and rescue locate you.

The Barryvox ‘Pulse’ Avalanche Transceivers have won rave reviews by users, being one of the most easiest and fastest transceivers to operate. All this equipment takes time to examine and practice. Taking an avalanche disaster course is a smart way to prepare for backcountry skiing because you’ll have access to hands-on instruction, and the information is so detailed on transceivers that it requires an article unto itself.

The ABS Freeride Airbag pack is a light balloon pack with room for a avalanche shovel – compact, and an avalanche probe. The ABS can help keep a person from being submerged, which is the key to survival. Suffocation is the leading cause of death in an avalanche.

There is also a microchip called Recco that is inserted into some ski clothing during manufacturing, in order to provide additional assistance if you are in trouble. It can also be purchased separately from the clothing, something to consider as a safety precaution for any natural disaster.

The avalanche ball is another item that is a little pouch with a collapsed, spring-loaded ball that is connected to a 20 foot long line. If caught in an avalanche, the idea is to pull the cord, which allows the ball to become full size, and therefore is on the surface of the snow possibly to notify others of your location.