Riding out

[mud99]

I have a question - let's say you're stuck in the worst case scenario, and an avalanche is breaking around you. You decide to ride it out, but lose control of your sled.

Should you try to hang onto your sled until you get swallowed or ditch it as soon as possible? I have heard different thoughts on this.

Mark

 

[550iq]

To answer the question, get the the nearest avalanche awareness class and watch images of avalanches as soon as possible and before you venture into country. The avalanche that took out my dad buried him under 30 feet of snow before you could blink your eye. The thing about avalanches is the unpredictability and to try to summerize the situation as easily as your question can not be done.

 

[skibreeze]

I'd say that if you fall off your sled and can't immediately get back on, your best bet is swimming away from it. The sled is just one more thing to potentially hurt you as you are going down the mountain.

 

[cobbycat]

I agree with skibreeze, the sled won't float to the surface (would be like hanging on to a boat anchor) and is just a very heavy, hard piece of debris falling down the hill amongst the snow. I can't see hanging on to the sled doing any good unless you are still riding it. the last avy at Frisby a sled pinned the guy to a tree, making the rescue difficult. and the avy at Owlshead last season that claimed the life of Matt had him pinned under the sled, witch made the recovery more difficult.