Statistics

    Avalanches are one of Mother Nature’s most deadly phenomena.  Between the winters of 1996-1997 and 2004-2005, 383 people have died in North America in avalanches (Utah Avalanche Center 2006).  This figure is doubtlessly only a small percentage of the people caught, buried and/or injured. As backcountry skiing, snowmobiling and lift-served backcountry riding become increasingly popular, these numbers are likely to increase.  Ski movies likely exacerbate the problem as more riders flock to the mountains trying to emulate the steep descents they see on video.  As a result, avalanche fatalities have risen since the eighties, especially in states such as Utah and Colorado, where backcountry terrain is very accessible. As more people flock into the backcountry in search of the steep and deep, more and more of them are paying much too steep a price for their thrills.

    Although avalanches are killers, they are not indiscriminate.   The vast of majority of avalanche “accidents” are avoidable.  Over 90% of people caught in avalanches trigger the slide themselves. The real enemy in the war against avalanche fatalities is ignorance.  Most people caught in avalanches either don’t know the signs of danger, or they choose to ignore them.  Of all the factors that go into determining whether a human triggered avalanche will occur or not, human behavior is the most important.  This class is the first step towards gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize dangerous avalanche terrain and conditions.    

Avalanche fatalities have steadily increased with the growing popularity of backcountry recreation.  Recently, better gear and a more aggressive mentality have likely exacerbated the trend. (Utah Avalanche Center)