Ookpik Chapter Five: Avalanche and Ice Rescue

5. Avalanche! and Ice Self-Rescue

Two of the greatest risk experiences in the backcountry are avalanches, and falling through the ice into a pond or lake. I do not have personal experience with either, but thanks to the magic of the internet, a great deal of information is available.

Here are some terrain elements to be aware of in avoiding avalanche danger, courtesy of Keith Gale.

Here is some information in the form of an Answer Key to Tahoe Nordic's avalanche safety film, Winter Aware. The film is available to Scout groups for free.
JumpShare GDrive

Before you head out in California, be sure to visit the Sierra Avalanche Center. They will have maps, guides, warnings, and a wide variety of information available to make sure your trip is as safe as possible.

If you are crossing through territory where the threat of avalanche is high, avalanche beacons or transceivers are strongly recommended for each member of your party. Practice in advance so that you know how to locate anyone buried. Minutes count in an avalanche rescue. Analog beacons work over a greater distance but tend to be less accurate (and require more practice). Most beacons now are digital, and while they have a shorter range they feature greater accuracy. As Backcountry.com states so well, "Remember, the best beacon out there is the one you know how to use and consistently practice with."

Backcountry.com has this advice on the choices available.

REI has this take on available choices.

Collapsible snow shovels and avalanche probes are also important tools to carry. Pictures of both are included in the chapter on Gear. I've found that with some snow, plastic shovels can bounce off (dink), and so I purchased a metal shovel. 

An inclinometer, designed to measure slopes, is also useful as avalanches tend to occur on slopes between 30 and 45 degrees. Some compasses include a built-in inclinometer.

Compass with inclinometer

As you travel through the backcountry, look for areas where trees are non-existent or clearly shredded or disfigured by avalanches. These ALMOST look like ski runs where no resort exists.

Safer areas included the windward side, with less snow, and ridges - but avoid snow cornices where snow can accumulate. As snow falls over time, layers form, and often the adhesion of one layer to another, like a layer cake with frosting zones, can cause instability. Any time you get a heavy wet snow on top of pre-existing and icy layers, there is a heightened avalanche danger. Think of a herd of elephants on roller skates perched above you on the mountain.

Here are a few articles and videos on avalanche avoidance.

Ten tips from the Colorado Avalanche Center on backcountry travel.

From Backpacker Magazine, some good advice on staying away from avalanche zones. Basic information.

This video provide a more detailed discussion of snow structure and survival, including a mention of beacons.

This video, less than a minute and a half, is a good summary of tips on avalanche avoidance.

Testing the snowpack with inclinometer and trench.

Spot Beacons

When heading into extremely remote territory, you may want to consider a Spot. Spots tend to be very simple. Pressing one button tells friends and family where in the world you are, and that everything is well. Pressing a second button informs them, and the authorities, that you need a rescue. All of this goes through satellite communications.

Here is the SPOT website. Be aware that in addition to the purchase of the device (some available for about $200 on Amazon), there is a monthly fee of (at the lowest range) about 12$ a month to support the functions of the device.

Falling Through the Ice

If you have ever seen the Disney Movie "Never Cry Wolf" (highly recommended) you may have a fear that as you walk through a meadow, a hollow cracking sound might reveal that a frosty plunge into a hidden alpine lake is imminent. In addition to carefully backing up and heading toward trees, here is what you should do if you break through. The first rule as in all of these challenges is DON'T PANIC.

This explains the basics of how to self-rescue if you ever fall through the ice.

And this is what it looks like when falling through the ice Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr