Backcountry Protocol

The headline articles at Avalanche News indicate that deaths by avalanche have dramatically increased this year. There are also numerous articles discussing how frustrated officials are with careless individuals heading into dangerous areas and avoiding backcountry protocol.

There are numerous accounts of individuals putting themselves and others at risk by not being aware of the dangers, not having proper avalanche gear, and not following backcountry protocol.

These people have no idea why what they are doing is considered stupid, and are baffled when people who do know what they are doing are angered by their actions.

It is important to realize that when you don't follow proper backcountry protocol, you place not only your own life at risk, but also the lives of everyone else in the vicinity. Including risking the lives of the personal that will put themselves in harms way in an attempt to rescue you.

There was recently an incident near Jackson Hole Mountain Resort where over 30 people risked their lives for over 2 hours searching for a skier they saw trigger an avalanche, and assumed was trapped in it. The skier who triggered the slide anonymously called several hours later to report no one was lost or hurt.

Backcountry protocol calls for reporting an avalanche and lack of victims immediately. By properly following the protocol, the search and rescue effort could have been avoided.

Here is a quick summary of Backcountry Protocol. Follow these rules before venturing into the backcountry.

• Check weather and avalanche forecasts.
• Carry proper avalanche gear, and be trained on how to use it.
• Don't venture onto suspect slopes.
• If you are on a suspect slope, know the forecast extent of a possible avalanche and have an exit strategy for such an event.
• Don't venture into dangerous areas alone.
• Know where you are going: Never determine your route by following other people's tracks
  (local extreme skiers often leave tracks in ski-to-die places).
• ­Do not trespass on private property.
• Only allow one person on a slope at a time, and spot one another.
• Don't ski above other parties! Don't drop in on top of another party. Give them time to reach a safe zone before you begin your run.
• Don't stand on unstable cornices.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return; then check back in to avoid false alarms.
• Listen to your instincts, use good judgment, and be prudent.
• In the event you trigger a slide, report the slide to the nearest avalanche center immediately.