Behavioral Traps

Document Actions

Behavioral Traps

In the backcountry, it’s essential to make decisions based on your observations of weather, terrain, and the snowpack. However, it’s easy to let other factors, like the fact that you’ve been dreaming about untouched powder all week at work, get in the way. The following is a list of factors that have been found to cloud backcountry travelers judgement (McCammon 2001). We all make decisions based on unconscious beliefs and behaviors. The key is to ask yourself, “How are my feeling? What external pressures might be influencing me?” before you look at any other factors. It sounds corny, but it works. This way unconscious beliefs and attitudes (the human factors) are brought to the surface and you are better able to see how they affect your thought process and the overall situation.

Familarity-”I’ve skied this slope a million times before and never had a problem”
Just because you’ve been somewhere a thousand times doesn’t mean it’s safe this time. Traveling in the backcountry is the type of activity where you can get away with dangerous activity for weeks, months, even years before triggered a devastating event. On those past days conditions might have been slightly different, or you might have just gotten lucky. Usually, experience is a good thing, but don’t let past experiences lull you into a false sense of security.

Acceptance-”There are already tracks on this slope. Someone skied it and didn’t get caught, it must be safe enough.”
That other party might have just gotten lucky. Make your own decisions.

Commitment-”I’ve been thinking about this all week, I can’t back out now. Besides, we already hiked up that huge hill and I told everyone the conditions were safe back at the car.”
Sometimes it seems like we’re trapped. After putting so much mental and physical energy into something, we feel like we have to do it. Don’t. Turning back and telling your friends that the slope is dangerous is way better than putting yourself, and them, in jepardy. Making good, safe decisions now means you’ll live to come back when the conditions are safe later.

Expert Halo-”I’ve taken an avalanche class. I know what I’m doing. Even if something happens, we know how to use our beacons.”
Avalanches don’t care that you are an expert. They don’t care about anything at all. Avalanche professionals that have travelled and worked in avalanche terrain for years get caught and killed. Also, don’t confuse expert skiing or riding skills with expert avalanche skills. They are two very different disciplines.
Further, don’t let the fact that you’ve had an avalanche class make you overconfident. An avalanche class doesn’t mean anything if you don’t actually apply the concepts and techniques you’ve learned.

Tracks/Scarcity-”Everything is tracked-out. If we’re going to get any fresh tracks, this is it.”
With backcountry riding becoming more and more popular, sometimes fresh snow is a rare commodity. Powder is addictive. However, don’t let desire overcome your better judgement. You want to live to ski and ride for a long time right?

Social Facilitation-”Everyone wants to ski this slope, I don’t want to be the one to ruin our day.”
Maybe you don’t want to be the person who speaks up and makes everyone chose another route or line. Maybe you want to impress someone of the opposite sex by skiing that line. Maybe you feel like you’re less knowledgable than everyone else. Maybe you want to protect your ego. Whatever the case is, don’t let anyone pressure you into anything. Have an opinion and share it with the group.

Don’t be just one of the herd. Have an opinion!!!

Back to Course Schedule

Copyright 2008, by the Contributing Authors. Cite/attribute Resource. factcouraud. (2007, May 08). Behavioral Traps. Retrieved November 23, 2009, from Free Online Course Materials — USU OpenCourseWare Web site: http://ocw.usu.edu/Forest__Range__and_Wildlife_Sciences/avalanche-and-snow-dynamics/AvClass/DecisionMaking/Behavioral%20Traps.html. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Course Contents Avalanche and Snow Dynamics Home Avalanche Basics Decision Making Rescue Start Here Snow Pack and Stability Terrain Weather Why Avalanches are Important	Personal tools Log in You are here: Home → Wildland Resources → Avalanche and Snow Dynamics → AvClass → DecisionMaking → Behavioral Traps
	Info Behavioral Traps Document Actions Behavioral Traps In the backcountry, it’s essential to make decisions based on your observations of weather, terrain, and the snowpack. However, it’s easy to let other factors, like the fact that you’ve been dreaming about untouched powder all week at work, get in the way. The following is a list of factors that have been found to cloud backcountry travelers judgement (McCammon 2001). We all make decisions based on unconscious beliefs and behaviors. The key is to ask yourself, “How are my feeling? What external pressures might be influencing me?” before you look at any other factors. It sounds corny, but it works. This way unconscious beliefs and attitudes (the human factors) are brought to the surface and you are better able to see how they affect your thought process and the overall situation. Don’t be just one of the herd. Have an opinion!!! Back to Course Schedule Next Page Copyright 2008, by the Contributing Authors. Cite/attribute Resource. factcouraud. (2007, May 08). Behavioral Traps. Retrieved November 23, 2009, from Free Online Course Materials — USU OpenCourseWare Web site: http://ocw.usu.edu/Forest__Range__and_Wildlife_Sciences/avalanche-and-snow-dynamics/AvClass/DecisionMaking/Behavioral%20Traps.html. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.	Reuse Course Download this course

Sections

Personal tools

Behavioral Traps

Document Actions