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Winter's Here, It's Time to Learn or Refresh Your Backcountry Safety and Survival Skills
Whether you've been skiing in the backcountry for years, or are just getting interested in the idea, you can never be too prepared for wilderness travel. Here are a few activities to help you get ready for winter sidecountry and backcountry recreation:
Avalanche courses: Avalanche courses will teach you such things as interpreting the terrain, weather and snowpack; making safe and effective decisions as individuals and as members of a group; planning for backcountry trips and deciding on alternative routes; and rescuing companions using beacon, probe and shovel. The emphasis in an avalanche course is on developing effective decision-making skills: if you have to rescue someone caught in an avalanche, there was a failure somewhere along the line in the decision-making process—the idea is that if you make good decisions, you won't find yourself in terrain that slides. For those backcountry skiers who have taken avalanche courses, it's always helpful to refresh and expand your knowledge by reading the latest books and online resources.
Beacon practice: It's important to practice using your beacon to become efficient and fast in your searches. Minutes and perhaps even seconds can save lives. If you have to find a loved one or friend, you want the beacon search to be instinctual during what will be a stressful situation. Many western resorts in North America have beacon practice sites that allow you to set up and practice different scenarios, such as deep burials and multiple burials. For a list of Backcountry Access Beacon Training Parks, visit www.backcountryaccess.com. If you don't see your resort of choice listed, it doesn't mean it doesn't have a practice park, since some training sites are sponsored by other organizations. Contact the resort or the region's avalanche forecasting center to see if they have practice sites. Unfortunately, those of us who live on the East Coast don't have any nearby training sites. Gather your friends together, bury beacons and practice your skills. Make a contest out of it by competing for fastest time, most beacons found and deepest beacon found.
CPR, basic first aid and wilderness medicine: Do you know how to help a companion who has survived an avalanche? Many victims, when found, have a variety of injuries that require at least basic medical knowledge: unconsciousness, not breathing, abrasions, deep wounds, broken limbs and internal organ damage are just a few that come to mind. Chances are high that you will not have ski patrollers or search-and-rescue personnel nearby and the first medical response will have to come from you. At the very least, you should learn CPR and basic first aid. If you plan to do extensive backcountry travel, you should seriously consider taking a wilderness first aid course and/or a wilderness medical course.