Backcountry Basics Step 5 Get Out of Harms Way (Video)

June 14, 2015

Learn how to avoid terrain traps and how to help someone out of in hazardous areas.

In this Backcountry Basics Step 5 Get Out of Harms Way video, you'll learn about the essential avalanche and backcountry safety steps every skier, snowboarder, and snowmobiler must take to limit your groups exposure to dangerous terrain. These include discussing the consequences of traveling on a slope before committing, avoiding terrain traps, placing only one person on a suspect slope at a time, and how and when to help someone when they're in hazardous terrain.

GET OUT OF HARMS WAY!

1. Limit your groups exposure to backcountry dangers and dangerous terrain.

2. Discuss the consequence of traveling on a slope before committing, avoid terrain traps.

3. Place only one person on a suspect slope at a time.

  • Don't help a buddy find a lost ski or get unstuck in hazardous terrain
  • Cross or ride suspect slopes one at a time

4. Stay in contact with one another.

  • Voice
  • Visual

5. Don't stop in an area exposed to avalanche hazard.

6. Don't enter a closed area or any place undergoing control work.

7. Minimize your impacts on others be aware of:

  • Groups above you
  • Groups below you
  • Roads & buildings below you
  • Control work nearby

8. Never intentionally trigger an avalanche unless you are sure the area below is clear.