24-25

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>This mid-October storm reminds us to dig out warm jackets, tune sleds and skis, check avalanche rescue gear for damage, and put fresh batteries in our transceivers (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtube.com/watch?v=Izkv4IIUmbk"><span><span><span><strong><spa… Gear Check Video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>).&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Mountain snow also requires us to consider the potential for avalanches. Slides are most likely where wind-loaded snow drifts more deeply in gullies and near ridgelines. Getting caught and carried at this time of year has the added consequence of bouncing off rough underlying surfaces, including rocks and stumps. Early season avalanches in southwest Montana have seriously injured and buried skiers (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/accident/12/10/31"><span><span><span><stron… Incident Report</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>), caught and injured hunters (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/accident/15/11/06"><span><span><span><stron… Incident Report</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>), and resulted in tragic fatalities (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/accident/17/10/12"><span><span><span><stron… Incident Report</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>).&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Remember the basics of avalanche safety as we begin traveling on snow-covered slopes.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<ul>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Beacons, shovels and&nbsp;probes&nbsp;are requisite equipment for each party member. Helmets and airbags are excellent additions.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Only expose one person at a time to avalanche terrain (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d5_vlY-bjg"><span><span><span><span><s… steeper than 30 degrees</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>) while partners look on from a safe area nearby.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Watch for red flags that indicate instability, such as recent avalanche activity, cracking and collapsing. If these are present, avoid steep slopes.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>If there is enough snow to ride, there is enough snow to slide. Dig down and test the snowpack for instability before considering travel in avalanche terrain.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Before you get out this season, refresh your skills by practicing avalanche rescue with your backcountry partners (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1xuaaSq4YU"><span><span><span><strong>…;) and sign up for an avalanche class. Our </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/workshops/calendar"><span><span><span><stro… calendar</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> lists local courses the Friends of the Avalanche Center and other regional providers offer.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Winter has been on hold, but snow is in the forecast and we will be skiing and riding before we know it. Before your first day on the snow, take time to ensure your avalanche rescue gear is working properly and consider refreshing your avalanche skills with a class or two this season. See our </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/workshops/calendar"><span><span><span><stro… calendar</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><strong><span><span> </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>for a list of all local classes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Avalanches are not uncommon with the season’s first snowstorms, and have injured and killed people in past early seasons (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/accidents?page=3"><span><span><span><strong… reports</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). If you travel in the backcountry when there is snow on the ground, whether skiing, climbing or hunting, prepare for avalanches like you would mid-winter.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<ul>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Carry a beacon, shovel and&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encylopedia/probe"><span><span><span><s… a minimum. Helmets are a necessity as well.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Travel one at a time in avalanche terrain (all snow covered slopes steeper than 30 degrees).</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Avoid steep slopes with fresh drifts of snow, especially where a slide could push you into rocks, trees or pile up deep in a confined gully.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Cracking and collapsing of the snow are bulls-eye information that the snow is unstable, and clear signs to avoid steep slopes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>As the snow piles up it is a good idea to dig to see the layers below the recent snow. Avoid steep slopes if you find weak, sugary snow underneath new snow or drifted snow.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>