Avalanche Safety -
Jackson Hole Backcountry
If you love snow sports, sooner or later Jackson Hole and northwest
Wyoming are bound to lure you. But lots of snow and steep
terrain--the same things that make Jackson Hole a focal point for such
activities as snowmobiling and cross country and downhill skiing
--also mean that avalanches are an ever-present danger.
Avalanches are intricate and puzzling
phenomena. Not even experts are able to accurately predict them.
There are, however, a number of factors that greatly increase
avalanche danger. Every person who ventures out during the winter
should be aware that leeward slopes accumulate a great deal of
wind-deposited snow and may become very unstable. In addition,
avalanches are most common on slopes of between 30 and 45 degrees.
Storms nearly always increase avalanche
danger considerably. Most avalanches occur during or just after
storms. Storms with sustained winds above 15 mph and/or heavy snowfall
(more than one foot) are common here and typically push the avalanche
danger into the "extreme" zone.
It is a rare Jackson Hole winter that
passes without at least one skier or snowmobiler being buried in a
snow slide. All too often, the victim does not survive. If you want to
go out in winter you should learn to evaluate avalanche danger.
This article is far too brief to permit a
full description of avalanche safety, so if you plan on spending time
out in the snow, take the time to learn more before you go. And when
in Jackson Hole, always check the Bridger-Teton National Forest's
avalanche hazard forecast, available during the winter months by
calling (307) 733-2664 or go to the Bridger-Teton National Forest
Backcountry Avalanche Hazard & Weather Forecast web site at
www.jhavalanche.org
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