Some of us are scoring powder days, while others are getting skunked. Either way, it鈥檚 shaping up to be a weird and dangerous winter all across the country鈥攁nd nowhere is this truer than the backcountry. So far, 8 skiers and boarders and four snowmobilers have died in avalanches this season across the United States, where erratic snowfall and temperatures have created a dodgy, unstable snow pack. Among the fatalities was 13-year-old Taft Conlin, who was skiing inbounds at Vail in late January when a slide caught him. And earlier this week, a solo snowboarder who was wearing an Avalung and an avalanche air bag was buried and killed in Bear Creek, outside Telluride.听
Whether you鈥檙e ripping the resorts or skiing the backcountry with the requisite safety gear鈥攂eacon, shovel, probe鈥攜our first line of defense is always basic snow smarts. With more young people than ever heading into the backcountry, the National Ski Patrol, in conjunction with the Utah Avalanche Center and the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, have released 鈥淜now Before You Go,鈥 a free 15-minute video designed to educate teens about how to understand the inherent risks of traveling in the backcountry. If you have children who are old enough to ski the backcountry or the steeps at your local hill鈥攚hether it鈥檚 the White Mountains or the Wasatch鈥 could save their life. And yours.听
https://youtube.com/watch?v=hE3RUrjB7Mc%3Ffs%3D1%26feature%3Doembed%C2%A0
(If the video doesn't play, to watch it on YouTube)
The “Know Before You Go” initiative takes its cue from Hawaii, where school kids are taught basic safety about rip tides and shore breaks. In Alaska, pro extreme skier Dean Cummings helped create a statewide Be Snow Smart program for youth. Of course, this video is only a start. To take avy-safety to the next level, bring your kid to an avalanche education course. The National Ski Patrol offers four levels of clinics, for beginners through pro ski patrollers. Check the NSP or your local ski resort for upcoming classes, some of which鈥攍ike Kirkwood鈥檚 one-day Juniors Intro to Avalanche Awareness, on March 18鈥攁re geared for teens. For a checklist of essential safety principles for all ages, check out the .听
Stay safe out there, everyone.听
National Ski Patrol, ; Utah Avalanche Center,; Colorado Avalanche Information Center,听.
鈥擪atie Arnold
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