How to Survive an Avalanche

How to Survive an Avalanche: Prevention and Survival Tips

Surviving an avalanche starts long before the snow begins to move. By understanding what causes avalanches and how to recognize danger zones, you can reduce your risk of being caught in one. If the worst happens, knowing what to do can dramatically improve your chances of survival. Let’s break this down into prevention and survival strategies.

Understanding Avalanche Causes

The best way to survive an avalanche is to avoid being in one. Understanding what causes avalanches and identifying high-risk areas are key to prevention.

The Science of Snowpack

Colorado’s heavy snowfall this year, combined with fluctuating temperatures, has created unstable snowpack conditions. When snow is fine, dry, and granular, like sugar, it doesn’t pack well. This unstable snow is known as hoar snow or sugar snow.

If you’ve ever tried to make a snowball with this kind of snow, you know how it crumbles. Now imagine a layer of heavy wet snow beneath it and another on top. This creates a ticking time bomb. As more layers of snow and external factors are added, a slab avalanche becomes inevitable. Slab avalanches occur when a cohesive layer of snow breaks away and rushes downhill. These are the avalanches most frequently triggered by backcountry adventurers like skiers, hikers, and snowmobilers.

Key Avalanche Factors

Several conditions contribute to avalanches, and understanding them can help you assess the risks:

Slope Angle

The angle of the slope is one of the most critical factors. Avalanches most commonly occur on slopes with an angle of 30 to 45 degrees. You can measure slope angles using tools like a compass with an inclinometer, a protractor with string, or smartphone apps.

Slope Aspect

The direction a slope faces in relation to the sun affects snow stability:

• South-facing slopes receive more sunlight, causing the snow to melt and condense, making them more stable under most conditions.
• North-facing slopes are favored by adventurers for their powdery snow, but this often consists of unstable hoar layers. However, as temperatures rise, south-facing slopes can become more dangerous due to heavy, wet snow, while north-facing slopes stabilize as their snow compacts.

Wind

Wind moves dry surface snow from one area to another, creating uneven layers. Wind can deposit snow into dangerous ridges or form snow slabs, both of which are prone to sliding.

Varying Snowpack

Each storm brings different types of snow, creating multiple layers within the snowpack. Wind-blown snow from other slopes further compounds this instability.

The Human Element

Human activity is often the final trigger for an avalanche. Skiers, hikers, and snowmobilers create vibrations and disturbances that can destabilize an already fragile snowpack. Cutting across a slope can act like slicing a taut rope—the layers of snow give way, leading to disaster.

The Role of Human Behavior in Avalanche Risk

Decision-Making and Ego

Poor decisions in the backcountry are often driven by ego, competition, or a desire to stick with the group. Group mentality can lead people to ignore warning signs or take risks they wouldn’t take alone.

Experienced vs. Inexperienced Adventurers

Interestingly, experienced adventurers are often more at risk than beginners. Overconfidence, past successes, or a lack of awareness about current conditions can lead to disaster. Newer adventurers may also rely too heavily on experienced partners, assuming their knowledge will keep everyone safe.

Summit Fever

The intense desire to reach a goal—whether it’s a summit or a destination—can cloud judgment. Never let the need to "complete the mission" override your safety instincts.

How to Stay Safe in Avalanche Terrain

When venturing into the backcountry, take these precautions to reduce your risk:

1. Always assess conditions: Just because an area was safe yesterday doesn’t mean it’s safe today.
2. Travel as if you’re alone: Don’t rely on others in your group to ensure safety—carry your own gear and assess risks independently.
3. Speak up: If something feels off, trust your instincts and voice your concerns.

Survival Strategies: What to Do if Caught in an Avalanche

Even with precautions, accidents happen. If you’re caught in an avalanche, these survival strategies can save your life:

Carry an Avalanche Beacon

An avalanche beacon transmits your location to rescuers, allowing them to find you faster. Time is critical—most avalanche victims only survive for 15 to 30 minutes if buried.

Create an Air Pocket

Asphyxiation is the leading cause of death in avalanches. Use your hands or arms to create a pocket of air around your face and mouth. Taking a deep breath to expand your chest before the snow settles can give you more breathing room. Staying calm and slowing your breathing is critical.

Move Sideways

Avalanches move fastest and with the greatest force in the center. As soon as you see or hear an avalanche, move sideways toward the edge as quickly as possible. You won’t outrun an avalanche, but getting out of the center can increase your chances of survival.

Swim to Stay on Top

As the snow carries you downhill, kick and move your arms like you’re swimming. This can help you stay closer to the surface and avoid being buried. Focus on swimming toward the edge of the avalanche.

Keep an Arm Up

While covering your mouth with one hand, stretch the other arm upward toward the surface. If part of your hand or arm remains exposed, rescuers may spot it more easily.

Grab Onto Something

If possible, grab onto a tree or rock to help anchor yourself and stay oriented. While large avalanches can uproot trees, smaller ones may leave these obstacles intact.

Let Go of Heavy Gear

Abandon any heavy gear that slows you down, but keep your pack on if it protects your back and neck. Freeing your hands is crucial for creating air pockets and swimming to safety.

Stay Calm

Panic wastes oxygen and reduces your survival time. Focus on creating space to breathe and working your way out methodically. Only shout if you hear rescuers nearby to conserve energy and air.

Determine Which Way is Up

If disoriented, use gravity to find up. Spit or drool and observe the direction it flows—gravity will guide you to the surface.

Final Thoughts

Avalanches are powerful and unpredictable, but understanding the conditions that cause them and knowing how to respond can save your life. Always carry the proper equipment, assess risks carefully, and trust your instincts. Prevention is the best survival strategy, but if the worst happens, these tips can help you stay calm, act decisively, and increase your chances of being rescued. Stay safe out there!