On a high avalanche danger day last February, two parties sought out safer, low angle-terrain in Utah’s Wasatch mountains. A colossal avalanche swept through the zone. Four of eight people died. Avalanche Forecaster Nikki Champion of the Utah Avalanche Center, who investigated this tragic accident, gives the low down on what went wrong and what we can learn.
Tag:
avalanche safety
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Backcountry skiing and riding can be both tempting and intimidating. The promise of untouched powder is alluring, but the threat of deadly avalanches is ever-present. How do you manage the risk? Renowned avalanche expert Bruce Tremper is here with tips on how to choose a safer route.
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Exploring great backcountry terrain often goes hand in hand with the threat of avalanches, but with careful route planning and rational terrain management, dangerous slides can largely be avoided. Before you head into the backcountry, brush up on how to use the best maps to identify avalanche terrain and plan the safest routes.
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Identify avalanche terrain quicker and easier this winter with the new Slope Angle – Avalanche map. Designed in-house, this map expands our coverage globally and integrates high-resolution data to help make picking out steep slopes on the map a snap. Add the new slope angle layer to your favorite base map to help plan a safer route through the snow-bound backcountry.
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The transition from resort skiing to the backcountry can seem daunting, but you no longer have to go it alone. Bluebird Backcountry ski area is a totally new concept that is designed to mentor backcountry skiers through the steep learning curve of winter travel in the mountains. Tune into this conversation with Bluebird Backcountry co-founder Erik Lambert to discover why this brand new ski area without lifts is so hot this year.
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Give a gift outdoor lovers will actually use — an experience. From travel, to education, to safety, our holiday gift guide rounds up the best COVID-friendly experience gifts for nature lovers and adventurers.
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The upcoming backcountry ski season might not be pretty. That’s what Search and Rescue mission coordinator Charles Pitman warns on this episode of the Out and Back Podcast. Since the pandemic hit, search and rescue calls have been higher than ever in Pitman’s jurisdiction of Summit County, CO. And he’s expecting those numbers to climb even higher as soon as the snow flies. Learn what you can do to stay safer in the wilderness this winter.
Now you can get official, up-to-date avalanche forecasts directly from the map on your phone. Simply pair the Avalanche Forecast layer with your favorite map to get the color-coded North American Avalanche Danger scale for your region. Whether you’re skiing couloirs or snowmobiling the back bowls, add this must-have feature to your avalanche safety toolkit. Read more about the Avalanche Forecast layer.
Bruce Tremper nearly died in an avalanche. Tune in to hear this harrowing tale, and how getting buried alive changed the trajectory of this avalanche expert’s life.
Ultra runner Courtney Dauwalter cannot seem to find a big enough challenge. Learn what motivates her to test her limits and her mental hacks to push through the seemingly impossible this week on the Out and Back podcast.