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What do I do? During an Avalanche.

W

WatchThis!!!

Free Member
All this avy acticity Is realy scarring me. I've never been in one or even seen one, luckily. I'm trying my hardest to keep it that way but mother nature always is superior.
SO, If I'm on a hill and the slide breaks above me, what do I do? What if it's to wide to try to outrun it to either side? Do i keep the sled pointed uphill and try to climb out of it?

Please, What do I do? :confused::confused:
Jay
 
WatchThis!!! said:
All this avy acticity Is realy scarring me. I've never been in one or even seen one, luckily. I'm trying my hardest to keep it that way but mother nature always is superior.
SO, If I'm on a hill and the slide breaks above me, what do I do? What if it's to wide to try to outrun it to either side? Do i keep the sled pointed uphill and try to climb out of it?

Please, What do I do? :confused::confused:
Jay
Click to expand...

Jay,
Not trying to start anything or be a smart a$$. But if you and your friends do not have the proper gear and know how to use it, you can kiss your a$$ good bye. I have been in two of them and lucky that I was not buried much past the waist in either. All had the equipment and were there in a heart beat, seemed like an eternity to me. There is no and I mean no time to try anything to out do one. Have the equipment and know how to use it.....My 02
 
I have everything and I do know how to use it. I'm just looking for someone who's been in one or two avys. A beacon isnt gonna help If im 10 ft + below. I just want to know should I pin it up or try to turn out????
 
There is no way you can continue uphill. I have been in one while headed uphill on a very shallow slope. I tried to turn out and rolled it. I watched my sled hit a rock on it's side and then I hit the same rock, butt first. Purple does not even come close to describing the bruise. Hitting the rock did launch me out of the snow, so I was totally on the surface when it stopped. On another slide, I was at the top of the slope headed down when it started, I went fast enough to stay on the surface but slow enough to keep the majority of the slide in front of me. It was a stair stepped hill, and I ended up on one of the steps with snow piled halfway up my back. When the snow stopped, you could feel it solidifying in just a second or two. Very wicked feeling. I can't tell you how long it took to dig out the back half of my sled. The next year a guy died on the same slope with his wife there to see it, and we were there within 15 minutes to probe for the victim. We never found him. It took the dogs to find him the next day, he had no avy gear.
 
I have had one break as i turned out on a convex roller and sidehilled out and above it, I have had a hill break 300 feet above me (including where I was) and was able to side hill through the sliding slab before it got rolling. Every situation is gonna be different. the 2 i was involved in directly, the throttle was my friend..................my best advice is "dont be there"
 
I was in a little slide on monday and like pit crew said, the throttle is your friend! I had a hill break about 90 ft above me and i sidehilled it until all the debris was below me then came down it. I couldn't get to one edge of it because the whole hill fell. For me it happened so fast the only thing you can do is react! It's also a good idea to try and avoid avalanche terrain to begain with.
 
ive heard both ways but do you want to try and stay on the sled or do you want to jump as far away from it as possible and swim?
 
WatchThis!!! said:
All this avy acticity Is realy scarring me. I've never been in one or even seen one, luckily. I'm trying my hardest to keep it that way but mother nature always is superior.
SO, If I'm on a hill and the slide breaks above me, what do I do? What if it's to wide to try to outrun it to either side? Do i keep the sled pointed uphill and try to climb out of it?

Please, What do I do? :confused::confused:
Jay
Click to expand...

My advice:
When the news coverage of the avalanche is over......turn off the TV, kiss the Wife and Kids goodnight and thank the Good Lord you were fortunate enough to not have put yourself in that position in the first place. ;)
Happy New Year!
 
graveler said:
take a course, they can show you what you need to know to stay alive!!!
Click to expand...

Exactly. Everyone in this 4M should take at least an entry level class. I took Mike Duffy's class and it was an eye opener. It is a good entry level class for snowmobilers and it's only $35.

I do know that you want to try and get your hand above your head so that hopefully others will see your glove when they look for you. Also, swim to stay on top of the snow if possible. Get away from your sled (don't hold on). You don't want it to crush you or end up on top of you because your buddies will have to shovel around it. I was also told to not struggle breathing. Just let yourself pass out (easier said than done) because it will be easier to revive you.
 
Jay,
You are a young sledder and as late you are in the MTN area I ride alot so maybe this will help.
You are going to hit even 45 degree + hills maybe even on marginal day with out thinking so I am not going to throw on top of the the right act.
Practice this:Beyond the stuff you know about after the slide rescue or avoidance.

1. Keep your ride buds in sight as much as possable (always is best)

2. Always review the terrain before the attempted traverse for an escape route, if stuff happens, I would stay with the sled as long as you can hold on, its the best last marker for those not involved.

3. If you get pulled down in the slide, swim for top but as it slowes get your hands/arms up in front of your helmut, take a deep breath and if lite becomes darker, remember your friends are coming, drop it a notch to calm, (think about your next birthday wish; IDUNNO) frantic will just
hurt the sitch.

4. refrain not to hit the spot if you are tired because not only will your reaction time be slow but also so will your judgement for that try in the ify location in the first place.

4. Of course avoidance is golden- Do not seccumb to peer impression review. trust your own standard of performance, not your best friend or for sure that of someone you hardly know, enough is enough.. and reread # 3 again.

5. Listen to your father, he has done it all a bunch, right and wrong.

6. Have fun and breath deep, this sport is for the most part as you already know, about fun!
Hope this does not sound too rightious bud;)
 
One thing that has stayed in my head over the last few days is that you can have all the latest and greatest survival gear in the world, but that won't give you a free pass.
 
stay safe,stay home

during high avalanche danger go out to your shop and tear your sled down for that mod you've been wanting to do.seriously though,it's not worth the chance,wait for the avy danger to drop.the snow will still be there and so will you.it's great to take classes and have gear,i consider it a must.but sometimes it can lead to a false sense of security.remember mother nature is ruthless and could care less how trained you are.i know i speak for all when i say"keep it safe,you are part of my extended family,love you man.":D
 
Even when the hazard rating is low, I have seen large slides (settlement can produce monsters). All the courses and all the equipment in the world cannot totally mitigate the danger,

MOUNTAIN SLEDDING IS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS

Accept this as fact or move on to another sport.

I prepare, observe, think and react. I preach alot to my riding buddies and try to keep the awareness high.

The more time you spend in the back country the more likely you are to killed in a slide, this is fact supported by statistics.
 
Another great thing to do is buy a book. "Avalanche Awareness" by Tony Daffern is a great one. Lots of technical stuff that yes can be a bit boring but still very useful but full of very useful info about terrain, weather, terrain traps, how to recognize avalanche terrain, etc.
This book is based on backcountry skiing but we use the same terrain so don't let that sway your opinion.
TERRAIN, TERRAIN, TERRAIN! Pay attention to terrain and ride accordingly.
And don't have lunch at the bottom of an avalanche runout zone!

Brad
 
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