The backcountry is a breathtaking place, offering adventure and solitude, but it also demands respect for the risks that come with exploring it. As someone who spends a lot of time in these remote areas, I’ve recently started diving deeper into avalanche education. The more I learn, the more I realize how little I knew—and how critical it is to stay informed.
Currently, I’m reading Avalanche Essentials by Bruce Tremper. This book is a game-changer, providing a step-by-step system for safety and survival. Tremper’s straightforward writing style breaks down complex scenarios into understandable advice, making it accessible for backcountry enthusiasts of all levels.
Key Lessons from Avalanche Essentials
I’ve been sharing highlights from the book on my social media, but I encourage everyone to grab a copy and read it for themselves. Here are a few insights that have stood out to me so far—and I’m only halfway through!
The System Approach
Safety starts before you even step onto the snow:
Make pre-trip plans
Gather information about the conditions
Understand avalanche types and patterns
Choose safe terrain
Learn safe travel techniques
Have a plan for emergencies
Sobering Statistics
A staggering 93% of avalanche accidents are triggered by the victim or someone in their party. While that number is alarming, it’s also empowering—it means that smart, safe decision-making can prevent most tragedies.
Avoiding Risky Behaviors
Groupthink ("Herding"): Larger groups often take more risks, so I prefer riding with smaller, manageable groups.
Goal Blindness: Focus on safety over reaching a specific destination. If conditions don’t allow for your original plan, adjust to ensure everyone makes it home.
Trusting Your Gut: Only trust intuition if it’s backed by experience and knowledge. Use checklists and decision-making aids to engage your logical brain.
Tools and Techniques
Avalanche terrain can be identified using the “Five A’s and Two C’s”:
Angle: Slopes steeper than 35 degrees are dangerous. Use an inclinometer!
Anchors vs. Obstacles: Trees and rocks can either stabilize or act as deadly hazards.
Aspect (Wind/Sun): How wind and sun exposure impact snow stability.
Altitude: Higher elevations often mean more risk.
Consequences: Assess what would happen if the slope slides.
Complexity: Evaluate how avalanche-prone the terrain is overall.
Don’t underestimate small slopes—they can be just as deadly, especially if they terminate in a terrain trap like a gully. Order an inclinometer or download an app and use it often to gauge the degree of the slop!
Weather and Avalanche Types
Snow doesn’t like rapid change, so wild weather often means unsafe conditions. Tremper outlines the most common avalanche types, including:
Loose dry and wet avalanches
Wet slab avalanches
Cornice breaks
Pay attention to weather changes like new snow, wind-drifted snow, rapid thaw, or temperature shifts.
The Five Red Flags
Recent avalanches
Wind-drifted snow deposits
Fresh snow
Cracking or collapsing sounds
Rapid temperature changes
Webinar Takeaways: Changing the Culture of Safety
I also attended Avalanche Canada’s webinar series, “Being Stuck Sucks,” presented by Backcountry Access. It focused on snowmobilers and offered invaluable advice:
Avoid helping stuck riders unsafely: Riding above someone on a slope increases avalanche risk and could lead to fatal consequences.
Adopt safer rescue practices: Use radios to communicate, stay out of harm’s way, and disturb as little snow as possible.
One rider at a time: Only one sled should be on a slope face at any given time to minimize risk.
Event Announcement: Avalanche Safety Training with Alaska Avalanche School
I’m excited to share that I’ll be attending the Alaska Avalanche School’s Avy 1 Training in Turnagain on December 14th! This hands-on course is tailored for snowmachiners like me who are passionate about safely exploring the winter backcountry. I look forward to deepening my understanding of avalanche hazards, trip planning, terrain evaluation, and emergency response.
The Alaska Avalanche School is an equal opportunity provider that offers a wide range of avalanche education programs for backcountry skiers, riders, and snowmachiners of all ages and experience levels. Their courses provide essential tools to stay safe and make informed decisions in avalanche-prone areas.
The Avy 1 Training includes a combination of online learning and immersive field sessions, covering critical skills like:
Creating a trip plan
Gathering weather and terrain information
Identifying avalanche problems and patterns
Choosing terrain that matches the conditions
Safe travel techniques
Managing emergencies in avalanche scenarios
Field sessions run daily, so participants should be prepared for outdoor conditions.
If you’re interested in joining a future session, here are some additional course dates around Alaska:
January 25–26: Haines
February 1–2: MacLaren Lodge
February 15–16: Moose Pass
February 22–23: Hatcher Pass
March 1–2: Valdez
Stay safe, stay informed, and check out their courses today!
For more information or to reserve your spot in a course, visit the Alaska Avalanche School website.
💡 Tip: Members of the Anchorage Snowmobile Club can receive up to $250 reimbursement for avalanche training. Membership costs just $35 per year, making this vital education more affordable.
Final Thoughts
Avalanche education isn’t just about survival; it’s about creating a culture of safety in the backcountry. Whether it’s checking slopes, recognizing red flags, or practicing safer group dynamics, there’s always more to learn and improve.
I’m excited to continue sharing what I learn from Avalanche Essentials and other resources.
Together, we can spread awareness and keep our adventures safe.
What avalanche safety tips have stuck with you? Share them in the comments or tag me in your stories! Let’s make the backcountry a safer place for everyone.
Stay safe and ride smart.
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