Avalanche Safety
Presentation Outline







Avalanche Introduction
Recognize Red Flags
Identify Avalanche Terrain
Travel Safely
SAR Protocol
Perform a Rescue
Additional Resources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2liJr2hDI
Avalanche Introduction
Avalanche Triangle






Recent avalanches
Signs of unstable
snow as you travel
Heavy snowfall or
rain in the past 24
hrs.
Wind blown snow
Significant warming
or rapidly increasing
temperatures
Persistent weak
layers
Recognize Red Flags





Slope angle (30-45
degrees)
Slope aspect, shape
and profile
Vegetation
Trees and rocks
Terrain traps
Identify Avalanche Terrain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxkK
Rcth78o
Travel Safely







Check forecast
Carry proper
equipment
Identify avalanche
terrain
Travel ridgelines
Avoid terrain traps
One at a time on
suspect slopes
Don’t travel above
your partner
Travel Safely

ICS
◦ Go/No-go decision
◦ Strategy and Assignments
◦ Communications

Safety Check
◦ Minimum PPE
◦ Lookout

On-scene
◦ Commander
◦ Safe zones, escape routes
◦ Appropriate search techniques
Rescue Protocols






PLS
Initiate voice
contact
Look for clues
Beacon search
Probe search
Shoveling
Perform a Rescue

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fniz8L-2dI
Beacon Search

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fniz8L-2dI
Probe Search

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPiGTbZceQ
Shoveling





www.avalanche.org
Utah Avalanche Forecast Center
https://utahavalanchecenter.org/
Avalanche Essentials – Bruce Tremper
Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain – Bruce
Tremper
BCA - http://backcountryaccess.com/
Additional Resources