Saturday, January 16, 2010

Weekend Warrior - Videos to get you scared

So ski season is in full session here in the North Cascades. Many of you may be seeking the thrill of skiing in the back country. With that however, comes the ever present danger of avalanches. Many skiers head out without a proper understanding of the dangers of avalanches, and how sudden they happen. We thought we would share a video of some back country users who found themselves in the unfortunate situation of being overcome by an avalanche. Luckily for us, the cameras were rolling and we can try and learn from their mistakes.



There are a few ways to mitigate the dangers of avalanches. One way includes using the proper gear while skiing in the back country. This may include using a pack like the Black Diamond Avalung. The skier in the video below uses one, and it aides in his rescue. Another method may be to take an AIARE Avalanche Level 1 course with us, here at the American Alpine Institute.

Avalanche Burial with Black Diamond AvaLung from Black Diamond Equipment on Vimeo.

No comments: