24 to Life

[The Fourth Wolf]

90% of ALL avalanches occur within the first 24 hours after a storm subsides.

Waiting a day will save lives, maybe even your own.
We all love to ride virgin snow but are first tracks worth dying over?

24 to Life...Burn it into your brain. Please.

 

[Matte Murder]

Is that storm or any significant snowfall? I would think that 2' of fresh snow is a "storm" but is 12"? 18"?
Thanks.

 

[The Fourth Wolf]

MM,
Significant snowfall is probably a more accurate term and there are many spot-specific variables to consider when evaluating avy danger.

My goal with this little catch phrase is to reduce the idea of waiting down to a sound-byte. Easy to remember, easy to understand, easy to repeat without sounding like a geek.

If more of us wait less of us will die. It's that simple.

 

[Goinboardin]

Is that storm or any significant snowfall? I would think that 2' of fresh snow is a "storm" but is 12"? 18"?
Thanks.

It could snow 4" and be one of the sketchiest days you've seen, if you ride a spot without evaluating it. After a 4" storm, there can be 18" slabs on slopes that have been wind loaded then no fresh snow on the slope that the 18" slab was formed from. So the bare slope is safe 60 seconds after the last flake falls, but, unfortunately, that 18" slab may be unsafe for two weeks.

As for 12" of snow, yeah thats a very significant snowstorm as far as avy conditions are concerned, especially if it has average or above average water content (not that super light puff snow that supports nothing).

But I do like that saying. 24 hours can make a big difference.