You've just come over the top of a ridge heading east and begin a traverse of a 40-degree slope looking for the best route down. A sudden deep cracking noise accompanied by a feeling of weightlessness gives you an adrenaline surge. In amazement you watch as much of the entire slope you're on fractures and begins moving downhill.
At first, it felt like a down elevator but speed increases rapidly as the large blocks fracture into ever smaller chunks. At this point you try to move diagonally toward the edge of the sliding mass as quickly as possible before losing your footing. If diagonally is not possible, you move uphill quickly to let as much of the sliding mass go by as possible. You've shed your pack, your pole straps are not around your wrists so you can drop them if you go down and your skis have releasable bindings so they won't drag you under the rushing mass.
Soon, within seconds, you may be going 40-80 mph along with hundreds or perhaps even thousands of tons of heavy slab compacted snow. It could be compared to falling into a cement mixer. If you lose your footing make every effort to keep your head uphill, swim as hard as you can and fight going under.
The noise is incredible. Snow will be forced under eyelids, into nostrils and mouth. Just before the mass grinds to a halt thrust an arm upward - you won't know which way that is so just guess. Simultaneously inhale to expand your chest and try to clear a space in front of your face.
Now, don't panic. You can't move and it's uniformly dark. Useless struggling and yelling will decrease your survival time. Yell only if you sense someone right on top of you. The other members of your party will soon be probing for you. They watched the whole event from the safety of the ridge as per standard safe travel protocol. Hopefully your beacon is still attached - if it's not they'll find the beacon and then look downhill for you. They have about 30 minutes. After that your chances of survival are slim.
The preceding is fiction, a composite from several sources including the Sierra Avalanche Center, U.S Forest Service Avalanche website, Utah Avalanche Center and the book "Snow Sense, A Guide to Evaluating Avalanche Hazard" by Jill Fredston and Dave Fesler of the Alaska Mountain Safety Center. (Fredston and Fesler's book "Snow Sense" should be read every year and referred to frequently during the winter by all who venture into the backcountry).
According to the U.S. Forest Service, 30 percent of avalanche victims succumb to trauma incurred during the ride. Almost all avalanche victims, regardless of recreation activity, trigger the slide that kills them. So it seems like avoiding avalanche situations would be the best bet.
According to Caltrans, Highway 88 between Red Lake and Silver Lake sees a greater number of winter avalanches than any other highway in the contiguous United States. Many are triggered by control methods but just that fact should translate into the nearby backcountry with its similar slopes and aspects. All it takes is a trigger and that is likely you, on your skis, board, snowshoes or snowmachine.
This is where Winter Safety Day can help. On Feb. 20 a winter safety day will be held at Hope Valley Sno-Park along Blue Lakes Road, that will present a series of mini-courses covering avalanche awareness and other common winter hazards such as hypothermia and route finding. The event will kick off at 9 a.m. and end at 3 p.m.
Sno-Park permits are required and carpooling is strongly recommended as parking is limited. The event is free to all winter recreationists. Dress for winter weather; bring lunch, a snack and something to drink.
Certified avalanche instructors, the California-Nevada Snowmobile Association safety trailer, California State Parks, Sierra Avalanche Center personnel, Alpine County Sherriff and Search and Rescue as well as Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Snow Rangers will be on hand with presentations and demonstrations and to answer questions.
More information can be found at hopevalleyca.com Hope to see you there.
