Two people were killed this past weekend back country skiing north east of Tent Ridge in Kananaskis, AB. They were swept to their death by a class 3 avalanche. Little else is known about the victims other than trauma was a factor. According to Greg Johnson, an avalanche forecaster at the Canadian Avalanche Centre, while some avalanche victims die of asphyxiation, many succumb to their injuries. “A small avalanche is faster than 70 kph,” he explains. Getting caught in an avalanche is very harsh and very violent. You hit things on the way down, rocks and trees.”

Like all outdoor sports, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or back country skiing, being prepared can save your life, especially if you’re a man. It seems that men are more likely to die in an avalanche than women. Johnson attributes that to the fact that more men are in the back country sledding and skiing, and then there is the testosterone factor. “Men get amped up - they want to go after it,” he says. Avalanche studies show snowmobile victims are in their mid 30’s, while back country skiers tend to be in their mid 20’s. “They have just enough knowledge to get into trouble,” Johnson remarks. “But a lot of people go into the back country and make good decisions.”

If you’re reading this and thinking, ‘Well this doesn’t apply to me,’ think again. If you like to ski out of bounds or your children are into climbing, hiking, skiing and sledding, then the following information could save your’s or their lives.

Precautions to Take Before Heading into the Back Country

Back country generally refers to western Canada, but Johnson states that Quebec also has avalanche fatalities. Good skiers and snowmobilers take note: before you head out in search of powder, take a recreation avalanche class and learn how to recognize the hazards. Also, it’s important to know how to use your equipment. Basic avalanche gear includes:

1. Transceiver radio that transmits signals and can be switched to receive signals. If your buddy gets buried alive, you can pick up his/her’s signal.
2. Shovel - used to dig people out
3. Probe - slim tent rod that goes down through the snow to help find victims.

In addition to the above, Johnson also carries:

1. Small first aid kit
2. Small emergency tarp
3. Extra clothes
4. Food
5. Water
6. Compass, map
7. Headlamp
8. Basic repair kit for his snowboard

This is the kind of guy you want to be with in the back country. He is well prepared.

One other very important precaution you should take is to check the avalanche report - www.avalanche.ca This site is updated frequently and produces forecasts for B.C., Alberta and Quebec.

Johnson sums it up with, “Accidents occur to people with good skill sets. Those skill sets outweigh their avalanche skills. Good skiers and good snowmobilers need to pay attention. Access avalanche safety information at www.avalanche.ca, carry equipment and know how to use it.”

Cheers,

Julie

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 11th, 2005 at 11:30 am and is filed under Current News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.