Snowboarding Tree Dangers
So you just got your new snowboard and new bindings, so how do you put them together? The key here is to make sure you measure the right stance for your riding style.
Snowboarding in powder is one of the most exciting kinds of snows to ride. It is hard to find perfect untouched powder fields in a resort, so we all start looking out of bounds, sometimes going into the backcountry or simply cutting the ropes from one run to the next. Riding trees is a great way to find untouched snow in the resort.
When we do that we are accepting the risks of falling into tree wells or very deep snow.
We control the risk level and we can prevent accidents from happening. You must know how to ride safely with your friends in ungroomed deep snow areas. Snowboarding trees, out of bounds or new terrain by yourself it is not a good idea.
A deep snow or tree well accident happens when a rider falls into an area of deep unconsolidated snow and becomes unable to move. The more the person tries to get out the more entrapped in the snow they become.
If a friend is not there for immediate help, you may die very quickly from suffocation, I’ve heard that you can die as quickly as you drown in water.
The odds of surviving a deep snow immersion accident are low, especially if you are not with a partner. Most cases of deep snow suffocation at ski resorts involve people falling headfirst into a tree well.
A tree well is the hole or depression that forms around the base of a tree. Evergreen trees and others trees can have large, deep tree wells that form when low hanging branches prohibit snow from filling in and consolidating around the base of the tree. These holes are hidden from view by the tree's low hanging branches or look like an amazing untouched section.
Like I’ve said before, tree riding is one of my favorite things to do and I am guilty of riding them alone. I’ve been stupid and lucky.
This winter has brought us incredible amounts of snow, quickly, the trees have been great, but also the chances of an accident with deep snow are very high.
There is no way to tell if a particular tree has a dangerous tree well by just looking at it. Small trees can also have big tree wells, 90% of people in a test conducted could not rescue themselves.
Most people that have suffered this kind of accident have been found buried in an inverted body position with their head under the snow. This makes it very hard to breathe or escape.
The risk of falling into a tree well is completely avoidable.
Here are some tips that can save your life-
*Never ride unknown terrain by yourself.
*Never ride trees alone.
*Wait for your friends in the trees, you can die in 5 minutes, it will take you about 10 minutes to realize your friend is no longer behind you, unstrap and walk back up the hill.
*After big snowfalls be extra careful.
*DO NOT LEAVE TO GET HELP, YOU ARE THE ONLY HOPE!
help it will not arrive in time. If your friend is buried under the snow, time is your enemy and you have to be quick getting your friend out.
*Yelling for help might work but do not leave, try all you can to rescue your friend.
*Make attempts to uncover the head first and help create an airway.
*When you uncover their head, make sure there is no snow in the mouth and that they can breathe.
*If you want to ride trees after a big dump have a friend that is willing to stay in visual contact with you at all times. Visual contact means stopping and watching your friend ride down at all times, then keep going downhill while he or she watches you at all times. It does NO GOOD if your friend is waiting for you outside of the trees or in the lift line while you are riding down.
*Stay close enough to either pull or dig your friend out. Hold your breath, the amount of time before you need air may be how much time you have to dig your friend out.
*Choose areas with spaced trees. You should be able to ride in between the trees so that if you lose control you do not fall in a tree well.
If you go down-
*Don’t struggle violently. The more you struggle, the deeper you will sink and the faster you will be unable to move.
*Make a breathing space around your face. Then move your body carefully in a rocking manner instead of panicking, try first to hollow out the snow and give yourself space and air.
*STAY CALM! it saves air and gives you more of a chance of survival. Your friend will hopefully have seen you and will come to your rescue. If not, your chances of survival are improved if you maintain your air space.
You and your friends assume a huge responsibility when riding trees and unknown terrain. Be a good friend, after all what do you have to prove? All you want to do is have fun!!! right?
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