Thank you, from the BaitShop Boyz! |
snowmobilers! avalanche season is here |
Post Reply |
Author | |
TasunkaWitko
Administrator aka The Gipper Joined: 10 June 2003 Location: Chinook Montana Status: Offline Points: 14749 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Posted: 16 December 2005 at 05:15 |
AVALANCHE SEASON IS HERE
Snowmobile riders who relish playing in new snow have already had some great weekends this season, but experienced riders know deep early snows and mild weather provide the base for a potentially dangerous avalanche season. Terrain, weather and the amount of snow-pack combine to create avalanche conditions. Once these conditions exist, human activity is the most frequent trigger of an avalanche. To be safe, prepare now. Snowmobile riders need to inspect and practice using their avalanche survival gear, including a transceiver, probe pole and shovel. "If you don't have avalanche gear," said Ray Paige, FWP's trails program specialist, "this is the year to acquire it." In addition to the right gear, the best protection is knowledge of: * Avalanche Mechanics: Avalanche danger begins when major snowstorms and winds create successive layers of unstable snow pack. About 90 percent of all avalanches start on open slopes of 30-45 degrees. Over half of all avalanche fatalities occur on small slopes-slopes of less than 300 vertical feet. * Avalanche Warning Signs: Avalanches are more likely to occur during or after a snowstorm if the snow has been blowing and drifting. This new snow hasn't bonded to the underlying snow pack and it is unstable. * Avalanche-hazard areas: Most avalanche terrain is easy to spot. Look for an open slope, bowl, or gully above timberline. Bent or damaged trees are a clue to where avalanches have occurred in past years. Check Montana's avalanche centers for specific information on the locations of past avalanches, current conditions and to learn more about avalanches. Avalance advisories are available for the Montana avalanche information is also available on the Internet at www.avalanche.org . -fwp- AVALANCHE SURVIVAL TIPS Snowmobilers have had some good snow and fine weather to enjoy their sport in December. That was the free ride. Now that there is snow-pack in the higher elevations, the state is moving into avalanche season. Avalanches are more likely to occur during or after a snowstorm. A slope becomes unstable when new snow hasn't bonded to the underlying snow-pack. Here are some tips to help keep your fun in the snow safe: If you are caught in an avalanche: * Make swimming motions and try to stay on top of the snow; work your way to the side of the avalanche. * As you feel the avalanche slow, try to thrust your hand or another part of your body above the snow surface and move your arm in front of your face to clear an air space. * Try not to panic; you need to preserve oxygen. If you are an avalanche survivor or an observer: * Keep your eyes fixed on the moving mass of snow in which the victim is trapped. * Mark the place where you last saw the victim. * Begin searching with your avalanche transceiver. * If the victim does not have a beacon, search directly down slope from the last point where he or she was seen. Look for visual clues like a glove or boot sticking out of the snow, and actively probe around trees, partially buried snow machines, or other obvious areas. * Dig victim out from the snow as rapidly as possible. * When the victim is found, treat him or her for suffocation, shock and hypothermia. * Stay with the victim, unless help is only a few minutes away. After 30 minutes submerged in snow, the victim has only a 50 percent chance of survival. Play it safe, check for avalanche advisory information in advance of your trip. Avalanche centers are: the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center at 406-587-6981 or www.mtavalanche.com ; West Central Montana Avalanche Center at 800-281-1030 or www.missoulaavalanche.org ; or Glacier Country Avalanche Center at 800-526-5329 or www.glacieravalanche.org. Montana avalanche advisories are also available on the Internet at www.avalanche.org . -fwp- |
|
TasunkaWitko - Chinook, Montana
Helfen, Wehren, Heilen Die Wahrheit wird euch frei machen |
|
Post Reply | |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |