Avalanche Safety Tips and Causes Explained

Three skiers are feared dead after being engulfed by an avalanche while skiing in the remote areas of Alaska, with snow towering nearly ten stories deep above them. Across the United States, avalanches claim the lives of about 25 people on average annually, predominantly in untamed regions, according to the National Avalanche Center. Avalanches at ski resorts are infrequent due to the managed nature of their slopes, which often involves triggering smaller snow slides intentionally when no guests are present.

Details have emerged about recent avalanches and guidelines for staying safe. The deceased skiers were enjoying heli-skiing—a form of off-piste skiing accessed by helicopter—when the tragedy struck near Girdwood, roughly 40 miles south of Anchorage. If confirmed, their deaths will mark the nation’s deadliest avalanche incident since 2023, when three climbers perished in Washington’s Cascade Mountains.

Experts have stated that the avalanche was unlikely triggered by the helicopter, as its noise or vibration does not exert sufficient force. Prior to this catastrophe, 15 avalanche-related fatalities had occurred in the U.S. this winter, involving backcountry enthusiasts, snow machine users, and a ski patroller, as reported by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. Recent incidents included a tragic slide on February 28 in Washington’s Harts Pass area, where three snowmobilers were trapped, leading to one death and one injury.

On February 22, a person succumbed to a skier-triggered avalanche in Colorado’s Berthoud Pass, marking the state’s third winter avalanche fatality. Other deaths included incidents on February 17, involving a person at Lake Tahoe and two skiers in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains, alongside the demise of a prominent Utah guide on February 8.

Avalanches primarily arise from two components: slopes exceeding 30 degrees and accumulated layers of snowfall. Additional pressure from external factors, such as movement or weather conditions, may shear these snow layers, causing them to slide. Sluffs, or loose snow slides, pose minimal lethal threats and property damage compared to slab avalanches, which involve significant snow layers detaching, rendering them fatal.

Cornices, which occur when wind forms snow overhangs along ridges, present sudden risks. While movements or fast weather changes can catalyze avalanches, approximately 90% are initiated by the victim or their companions. Travelers in snowbound backcountries are advised to monitor avalanche forecasts and equip themselves with essential safety gear.

Most ski resorts implement mitigation strategies, including snowpack stability evaluations and deliberate slide detonation, to mitigate hazards before skiers access the slopes. Chris Lundy, an avalanche veteran with the National Avalanche Center, dispels myths regarding helicopter-induced avalanches, highlighting that physical force, rather than sound or vibration, is necessary to disturb the snowpack.

Evading an avalanche requires proactive measures rather than attempts to outrun it, as dry slab avalanches can reach speeds exceeding 80 mph in seconds. Comparatively, Usain Bolt’s world record pace is substantially slower. To minimize risks, outdoor enthusiasts should seek out regional forecasts and prioritize areas less predisposed to avalanches.

Safety protocols recommend indulging in recreational activities with companions skilled in wilderness first aid. Must-have gear includes an avalanche beacon for location signaling, a shovel for snowpack testing or rescue, and a collapsible pole to probe for buried individuals. Avalanche airbag backpacks, designed to inflate upon triggering, offer an opportunity to remain buoyant during an avalanche.

In the event of being trapped by an avalanche, creating a small air pocket with cupped hands over the mouth and nose may save lives. Such efforts provide much-needed air while body warmth may facilitate minor snow melting, potentially allowing for gradual excavation towards freedom.