Descending Mt. StupidAvalanche mistakes and misunderstandingsBy Tom Rogers

Phrases uttered atop Mt. Stupid:Historically, the Amazons would cut off their right breast so they could shoot a bow and arrow.The American Civil War really had nothing to do with slavery.

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Professional

Were always cautious when skiing in the backcountry- only one skier goes at a time!

You ski this chute first and then stand directly in the middle, and Ill just ski right down on top of you.

Weve got a bomber group of experienced backcountry skiers. What could possibly go wrong!?

Heck with the avalanche gear Im skiing the East!

We always dig a pit on the first day of our week-long backcountry ski trips!

Snow pitsSnow pits are great for telling you the conditions of the snowpack at that time, on that slope, in the current weather.

(And for some reason we dig them in completely flat fields!!)

Yeah, Jenny took a 2-day avalanche seminarback in college! She totally knows what shes doing!You sure about this?

Authority is greatly overratedOdds of dying in an avalancheincreaseswith level 1 avalanche certification

Im such a good skier, which naturally means I know a lot about avalanche safety!

Skiing abilityAvalanche knowledge

Im not scared Ive got all the proper avi gear!

Avi gear is mostly useless

Avi gear is mostly useless

Like a seatbelt on a plane

Best piece of avalanche gear

Second best piece of avalanche gear

Did you guys remember to rent your avi gear?Yup!Absolutely!Borrowed it from a friend!

Avalanche gear you dont know how to use is totally useless

Im okay with dying doing something I love

Avalanches are not glamoroushttp://www.powdermag.com/avalanche-education/op-ed-calling-bullsht/

Avalanches are not glamoroushttp://www.powdermag.com/avalanche-education/op-ed-calling-bullsht/12 feet of snow in a week, a fresh foot overnight

Avalanches are not glamorous Jared Spackman, Jackson, WY, 1973-2013

Will this group die in an avalanche?

Will this group die in an avalanche?Probably not!

Now onto a review of basic avalanche concepts

Avalanche TriangleSnowpackWeatherTerrainHuman

Avalanche TriangleSnowpackWeatherTerrainHuman

Terrain, terrain, terrainWhen snowpack, weather, or people are the question, terrain is the answer.Bruce Tremper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yujtc0UUXCE

Snow Pitshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcXogVHecFQ

Rescuing an avalanche victimWatch the victim

Rescuing an avalanche victimWatch the victimMake sure the danger has passed

Rescuing an avalanche victimWatch the victimMake sure the danger has passedScan the surface of the snow

Rescuing an avalanche victimWatch the victimMake sure the danger has passedScan the surface of the snowTell other skiers to turn their beacons to search mode

Rescuing an avalanche victimWatch the victimMake sure the danger has passedScan the surface of the snowTell other skiers to turn their beacons to search modeTurn your beacon to search mode

Search Patterns

Search Patterns

Rescuing an avalanche victimWatch the victimMake sure the danger has passedScan the surface of the snowTell other skiers to turn their beacons to search modeTurn your beacon to search modeProbe

Probe line86% of the 140 victims found (since 1950) by probing were already dead.

Rescuing an avalanche victimWatch the victimMake sure the danger has passedScan the surface of the snowTell other skiers to turn their beacons to search modeTurn your beacon to search modeProbeShovel

Shoveling

Rescuing an avalanche victimWatch the victimMake sure the danger has passedScan the surface of the snowTell other skiers to turn their beacons to search modeTurn your beacon to search modeProbeShovelTreat victim

Treating an avalanche victim

Treating an avalanche victimMove only if necessary, otherwise dig around

Treating an avalanche victimMove only if necessary, otherwise dig aroundCheck ABCs

Treating an avalanche victimMove only if necessary, otherwise dig aroundCheck ABCsAdminister CPR for up to 30 minutes

Treating an avalanche victimMove only if necessary, otherwise dig aroundCheck ABCsAdminister CPR for up to 30 minutesCheck for shock and continue secondary assessment

Treating an avalanche victimMove only if necessary, otherwise dig aroundCheck ABCsAdminister CPR for up to 30 minutesCheck for shock and continue secondary assessmentStabilize for neck or spinal injuries

Treating an avalanche victimMove only if necessary, otherwise dig aroundCheck ABCsAdminister CPR for up to 30 minutesCheck for shock and continue secondary assessmentStabilize for neck or spinal injuriesEvac immediately

And finallyThe Kings of Mt. Stupid

And finallyThe Kings of Mt. Stupid

Most experienced people still make very bad decisions. Shovel beacon probe etc mostly useless Most people only think about down Terrain terrain terrain Authority is the worst - more people with a level one die. You are playing roulette every time you travel in avalanche terrain. Herd effect - large groups and women Snow pits are of limited utility. Its okay if I die doing this at least Ill die doing what I loveSide country is the best way to get inexperienced and unprepared people into high alpine terrain fast. Good skiiers think they have more avalanche knowledge.#1 piece of avalanche equipment- Helmet more important than all othersBrain most important Your phone is not a dependable rescue tool batteriesAirbags only slightly increase your chances of surviving an avalance: http://www.adventure-journal.com/2013/03/the-truth-about-airbags-and-avalanche-survival/

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