Fremont Rescue
The best way to avoid an avalanche is to be aware of current avalanche conditions and take precautions to avoid them. Avalanches occur when loose snow or a slab of snow starts moving down a slope. Avalanches are triggered by a variety of slope, snow and weather conditions but can also be triggered by human impact. Avoid steep slopes or smooth, open slopes.
Avoid mountainous terrain after heavy snowfall or prolonged periods of high wind. Do not cross steep side hills or narrow canyons. The safest routes are on ridge tops and on the windward side. Stay away from cornices. The next safest route is out in the valley, far from the bottom of a slope. Slopes at angles of 28 degrees or greater are in great danger of sliding.
Cross one person at a time. Never stop in the middle or the bottom of a slope. Never travel above your partners!
Prepare for the worst. Have a rescue plan. Have each member of the group carry avalanche gear. An avalanche beacon for each member of your party can save lives. Carry a shovel and probe and know how to use them! A cell phone is important to have, though it would take too long for rescue members to arrive to rescue an avalanche victim. Your party is the best source of saving a life.
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A reminder to anyone traveling backcountry areas whether skiing, snowmobiling or hiking: Remember the time of year, exercising all back country cautions. Take necessary equipment and survival gear when venturing into the back country. If you have a GPS and cell phone, be sure to take them with you, but do not rely on them entirely for a safe rescue if you find yourself in trouble or stranded. Cell phones should be kept close to your body & turned off to keep the battery full, so it's not searching for a signal & running the battery down. Avalanche Transceivers and equipment, knowing what the avalanche conditions are, and knowing skills to save lives are a must for everyone entering back country riding or traveling. Plan ahead. Make sure you know the area you are heading into before heading into it. If you find yourself in trouble, stop, take a look around you, and do not go any farther. The farther you go the more complicated and dangerous it is to get yourself to safety, also making rescue efforts more difficult and dangerous. Make mental notes in relation to any physical features or landmarks that would assist in your rescue. Make a plan, stick to your plan, narrow the riding area, & most of all... let someone know WHERE you are planning to go!
To check avalanche conditions, here are some sites to look at. North American Avalanche Centers Web Site
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Avalanche Survival
- Call out so other members of your party can track your location.
- Discard all equipment and get away from your snowmobile.
- Make swimming motions and try to stay on top; work your way to the side of the avalanche.
- As you feel the avalanche slow, try to thrust your hand or any other part of your body above the surface so you might be seen.
- Before the snow settles, slip your arm in front of your face to clear an air space.
- Try not to panic; you need to preserve oxygen.
If you are a survivor, you are a victim's best hope of survival:
- Mark the place where you last saw the victim and keep your eyes fixed on the moving mass of snow in which they are trapped.
- Search for the victim directly down the slope from the last sighted area when the snow stops moving. Use a ski pole or stick to probe the snow.
- Stay with the victim unless help is only a few minutes away; after 30 minutes, the victim has only a 50 percent chance of survival.
- If the victim is found, treat for hypothermia, suffocation and shock.
Did You Know?
Avalanches travel at speeds up to 100 MPH
Most avalanches occur during or just after big storms when the snow is too heavy to stick.
The deadliest "Slab Avalanches", are mostly caused by snowmobilers or skiers being outside marked trails.
Ski Patrols use explosives to cause snowslides, reducing risk of major avalanches.
Most avalanche victims die in half an hour, many within five minutes.
In the US, there are about 20 deaths per year due to avalanches.
