From Deseret News archives:
Know facts about Utah avalanches
It is not fun, says Craig Gordon, avalanche forecaster/educator with the Utah Avalanche Center. What follows is Gordon's insight into avalanches.
It doesn't matter what you're riding when you break loose an avalanche skis, snowboard, snowmobile, snowshoes it's all the same thing.
When we're out we don't feel the difference in two, three or four degrees in slope angle, but avalanches are all over it. Does it matter what tracks are on the slopes? Of course not. An avalanche doesn't know who made the tracks, it just knows someone came along and irritated the snowpack, and it is making this (avalanche) cranky.
You get tumbled down this slope, slamming into rocks and getting wrapped around trees. When you get to the bottom, there's a one in four chance you'll die from getting beaten up in the avalanche.
Then, at this point, you will have to rely on your rescue party. There's no time for outside rescue help. You've got 15 minutes to live under the snow. Avalanche debris sets up like concrete in just a second or two, so you can't move. You can't help yourself.
Now the rescue party has got to get into gear. Statistically, we lose the ability to be found alive as time goes by.
That's why you've got to have an avalanche beacon, shovel and probe when going in the backcountry. And you've got to wear this stuff on your body. You've got to wear a beacon under the coat and either put the shovel on a pack or hook it around your shoulders. If it's under the seat or hood of a machine, and you are separated, then you're separated from the rescue gear.
The shovel, beacon and probe are like the airbag in your car they are things you don't want to use but are happy to have if there is an accident.
And once you have the gear, you've got to practice and practice often.
Comments
- Will state consider gay rights law? 7:11 a.m.
- Tiger opens with a 66 in Australia 1:18 a.m.
- Crash kills Utah County man 1:12 a.m.
- UCAT cheaper education option 1:12 a.m.
- Post office to be named for Rex Lee 1:11 a.m.
- Police probe synagogue vandalism 1:09 a.m.
- New charges added in fraud case 1:09 a.m.
- Mom takes plea deal in girl's beating 1:08 a.m.
- Drug trafficking operation busted 1:07 a.m.
- News yule writing contest starting up 12:59 a.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- BYU football recruit turning heads
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- Prep football: Felt's Facts Week
- 12 Utes return to Texas
- Crash kills Utah County man
- Long days for BYU interns
- Will state consider gay rights law?
- House passes health care bill
287 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
247 - TCU showdown has big implications
194 - Senators want food tax restored
157 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
109 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
101 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
94
TCU does not have to. All the works have been done by Utah. If TCU manage...
Your not that good either. Wynn has only played 5 quarters.
You gotta love the conservative mind. Why did George Will wait to write...
I see the uties are out in force. They are jealous that the Courgars keep...
I don't get all the cry and fuss over whether you see emotion or not. Are we...
It's reallllly difficult to think of Ernest Wilkinson, Dallin Oaks, Jeffrey...
There are about 15 million people without health insurance in this country....
I should have learned from last year never to count the Utes out even when...
Crush 'em, TCU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yewts are worthless.
LOL Just like your boys were going to be National Champs this year as a...

You can be the first to comment on this story.