Stay Alert For Avalanches

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By By Michelle Esteban

Summary

Ski patrol officials say people get lured into a false sense of security when hiking through the backcountry.

Story Published: Jan 30, 2004 at 4:21 PM PDT

Story Updated: Jul 24, 2009 at 11:26 AM PDT

Stay Alert For Avalanches
KING COUNTY - All the wet weather we've had has put our state's backcountry at the orange alert level for avalanche risk. That means, avalanches are probable.

So if you're heading for those areas this weekend, it's probable you'll want to make other plans.

"It's not worth it," said Kelsey Smith ashe took one look at Alpental's backcountry and bagged it. "I got a babysitter for today, so now I'm gonna go home," says Smith.

Alpental Ski Patrol Jay Wiseman calls Smith's decision, the "right one".

"I wouldn't even bother leaving the car when we're getting the snow like were' supposed to get this weekend, it's gonna be highly dangerous," Wiserman said.

Dangerous even though the risk was just reduced from extremely high to considerable. The Northwest Avalanche Center, which forecasts avalanches in the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, reduced the level Friday morning.

"People get lured into false sense of security cause it's so close to interstate, seemingly an easy walk," says Steve Linden, Probe Specialist with Alpental Ski Patrol. "(But a) couple hundred yards in, you can be well into harms way."

Linden says most people don't know a "considerable avalanche risk" is still a risk. It means human triggered avalanches are probable and natural slides are possible.

"The bottom line is the wilderness can kill you if you're not prepared for it," says Wiseman.

Being prepared means knowing the terrain, how to evaluate snowpack, forecasting and route finding.

"And never go into the backcountry alone."

If they could, Wiseman and Linden would force everyone, to carry avalanche tools, starting with an avalanche transceiver -- one for you and one for your partner.

"The only problem with these transceivers, people think they're safe just by wearing them, you have to be trained, " says Wiseman.

In December, Susie Green went to Alpental for what she thought was an easy snowshoeing route. A quarter mile from the parking lot, on her return trip to the car, she was buried in 18 feet of snow. It took 5 days to find her body. She wasn't wearing an avalanche beacon.

To help take the guesswork out of avalanche forecast, the Northwest Avalanche Center, forecasts the risk daily for anyone online. Their forecasts range from extremely high, high, considerable, moderate and low.

For More Information:

Northwest Avalanche Center -- www.nwac.noaa.gov