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Avalanche Awareness & Safety

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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,142
This thread is to discuss particular incident reports, stories, discussion of snowpack in particular areas, and other safety topics.

Links to local avalanche reports and sites:

Canada: http://www.avalanche.ca/
Kananaskis Country, AB: https://www.facebook.com/KCPublicSafety
U.S. PNW: http://www.nwac.us
Colorado: http://avalanche.state.co.us/
Utah: http://utahavalanchecenter.org/
Tahoe: http://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/
East Sierra: http://esavalanche.org/
Mt. Shasta: http://shastaavalanche.org/
New Hampshire: http://www.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org/
Montana: http://www.mtavalanche.com/


**This thread was edited on Dec 30th 2014 at 9:00:47am

**This thread was edited on Feb 8th 2018 at 3:13:29pm
Dec 23 2014 3:17PM
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Craigskis
Posts: 6650 - Karma: 1,645
Too broad a subject to be local. Awareness is the key though I agree.
Dec 23 2014 7:07PM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
Links to local resources count?

For PNW, this:

http://www.nwac.us
Dec 23 2014 7:49PM
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Nacho+
Posts: 3748 - Karma: 7,791
^Good idea.

Here is NH

http://www.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org/
Dec 23 2014 11:31PM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,142
Yeah just post 'em up and I'll add them to the original post.
Dec 24 2014 11:24PM
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Craigskis
Posts: 6650 - Karma: 1,645
At a glace I liked there website better last year.

They have an app too which is probably why the website was rebuilt in the manner its now it to be more cell phone friendly.

http://www.avalanche.ca
Dec 25 2014 11:37AM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,142
Thanks for the US sites. If there are any other regional ones shoot me the link.
Dec 26 2014 2:57PM
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percs
Posts: 2280 - Karma: 5,788
To anyone who hasn't taken an avi 1 class, do it. Whether your going into the backcountry or not, it changes your whole perspective on snow.
Dec 27 2014 12:06AM
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Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
Eastern Sierra (less tahoe)

http://esavalanche.org/
Dec 27 2014 2:17PM
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malonius_funk
Posts: 2249 - Karma: 1,500
Montana: http://www.mtavalanche.com/
Dec 27 2014 9:28PM
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Craigskis
Posts: 6650 - Karma: 1,645
Compression test video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crwvFn67e5Q
Dec 29 2014 8:46PM
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~Gotama~
Posts: 821 - Karma: 3,160
I just finished up reading Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain in preparation for a week long snow science and avalanche safety class in the Tetons next week. This stuff is awesome. I'm so stoked.
Dec 30 2014 1:55PM
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iLLbiLLy
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 2,631
Western Wyoming: http://www.jhavalanche.org/index.php
Jan 7 2015 6:47PM
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Bo_bot9
Posts: 1437 - Karma: 275
if you only learn one "formal" stability test learn the extended column test...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s9LND3-gho
Jul 20 2015 7:00PM
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cydwhit
Posts: 5067 - Karma: 42,847
Bumping this.

Looks like we had the first avy incident of the year this morning:http://snowbrains.com/1st-avalanche-accident-of-201516-was-today-2-people-caught-300-slide-1-injured/

We skied that area Tuesday, dug a pit, found some fun depth hoar, and a pretty well bonded rain layer about 10cms up, skied conservatively and were fine.

Went back this morning, noticed severe wind loading on the drive up, got the truck stuck in a drift 40 yards from the parking lot, and spent the next 2 hours digging it out. Once we did get it out we poked around a little bit (didn't really even leave the parking lot) and realized we did not want to be skiing in those conditions. Warned a group of kids that were about to boot pack up (later found out they heeded the warning and turned around soon after) and headed home.

Saw the report when we got back, that's where we were planning on skiing and if we hadn't been digging the truck out (and if we hadn't thought about the conditions) we would have been on the skin track/in that bowl when it broke loose.

Now I'm really itching to get into some snow classes.
Nov 5 2015 10:14PM
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ChoomaChad
Posts: 194 - Karma: 669
To include for Central Idaho: http://www.sawtoothavalanche.com/
Jan 11 2016 11:36PM
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SidelineSwap
Posts: 26 - Karma: 145
If you're going out in Colorado, be extra careful--most amount of people skiing the most dangerous snowpack. Anyone going out there should take an avy 1 course. Plus, there's a bunch of slednecks to worry about
Sep 12 2016 9:06AM
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Hugh_Conway_jr
Posts: 746 - Karma: 467
SidelineSwapIf you're going out in Colorado, be extra careful--most amount of people skiing the most dangerous snowpack. Anyone going out there should take an avy 1 course. Plus, there's a bunch of slednecks to worry about


this is the most generalized and unhelpful comment, particularly since its placed in a sticky about BC Safety and awareness. Let's keep this thread for valuable links and facts.

There is nothing special about Colorado's snowpack, and absolutely nothing unique to it that it doesn't share with other states and provinces that share a similar geography ... Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Alberta and BC can produce very similar snowpacks... Colorado has had some bad years, but that's because of the decisions made by BC users in the area, and it reflects the fact that there are more users concentrated in this area. Blaming the snowpack is not an effective tool to mitigate BC accidents.

Apply the knowledge you learn in your courses, keep an ongoing dialogue with your partners, and seek out mentorship opportunities. Complex terrain and complex snowpacks require complex decision making abilities.

The most dangerous thing in BC is the User... your decision making ability is your biggest piece of safety equipment... and the shit that goes down in movies is (for the most part) well thought out and done with the assistance of Medical, Rescue and Heli support... resource the average user does not have at their disposal.

Have a great season and stay safe.
Oct 29 2016 3:18PM
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Idahoskier420
Posts: 719 - Karma: 86
Avalanche Climates in the Western US
Nov 8 2016 4:07PM
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Bo_bot9
Posts: 1437 - Karma: 275
I'll bump this thread again... If you're backcountry skiing and not taking the time to get educated then you are doing a diservice to the people you are going out with.

http://www.kbyg.org is a great first step towards avalanche awareness.
Feb 23 2017 2:39PM
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Hoyer
Posts: 26 - Karma: 166
sorry

**This post was edited on Dec 26th 2017 at 11:26:35am
Nov 17 2017 1:09PM
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SkiingNinja
Posts: 1966 - Karma: 902
I produced a new ~30 min avy awareness video with the guides at Colorado Mountain School (disclosure, I work for them). It's a great way to refresh for the season if you have training, or a good starting point if you're new to the backcountry. The video is part of an online course where you take quizzes, read case studies, etc. All free. Check it out here:
https://coloradomountainschool.com/product/avalanche-awareness-clinic/

If you dig it, send it to your ski touring partners so we can all be on our game at the start of the season.
Oct 2 2020 3:30PM
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goatmaster
Posts: 374 - Karma: 2,430
AIARE is what you should take if you are in Colorado. I was super impressed with their programs.
Sep 11 2021 10:16AM
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