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Avalanche
Awareness and Precautions
We proudly support our local
Alpental Pro-Patrol and Snoqualmie Pass Fire and Rescue.
These professionals save lives.
As well as being public
wilderness, Alpental is one of the consistently steepest lift
serviced areas in North America. Many avalanches occur
regularly all the way up both sides of this valley, including the
infamous Phantom on Mt. Snoqualmie which took out the maintenance
lot in the early 90's. We are very lucky to have these professional
ski patrollers who do regular control work using a variety of
explosives, and ski cutting techniques within the ski area's permit
boundaries. These professionals are very committed, give
generously of themselves, and are greatly underpaid for their
service to this community. Even so, this is no guarantee
slides will not occur. People die at Alpental due to
avalanches. Control work is not usually done in backcountry
areas accessible from Alpental. Control work is also not
performed when the ski concession is not operating. That being
said, backcountry travelers should carefully evaluate avalanche
conditions and dangers, and realize that risk is involved in any
backcountry tour at Alpental. All backcountry
travelers should be aware of not only the risk they put themselves
in, but also the risk they potentially put rescue personnel in.
Your actions in the backcountry can and do affect others.
Enjoy your public land, be respectful of other's lives, and remember
to thank a pro-patroller next time you encounter one at Alpental.
Below is a list of things you can do to become
more aware of avalanche potential, and to minimize risk:
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Respect all ropelines and closures while skiing
from the lifts. Use the traverse (stay high and space out) only
when patrol has opened the gate. Do not climb up the valley from
the upper lots if
conditions are unsafe. If you do not know what the
conditions are, find out, or do not climb.
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Own and know how to use necessary avalanche
equipment including transceiver, shovel, and probe.
Practice using these early and often before you find yourself in
a life and death situation where you actually need to use it.
Remember to carry the 10 essentials
in case you are in the backcountry longer than you expect.
Also a radio (channel 9 code 11) and a cell-phone programmed
with the Alpental pro-patrol number are good ideas.
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Know what the least dangerous route is where you
will be touring, and travel on it. Continue to evaluate
snow conditions at all times. Dig a pit, and if you do not
like what you see, turn around.
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Remember to space out one at at time on open,
exposed slopes and traverses. This includes the Great
Scott Traverse. There are large cornices on the ridge
above this traverse which could wipe out an entire party if
clustered together as is frequently the case.
"Tailgating" is dangerous on the traverse as well as
in road traffic. This is not a race.
Freealpental.org dedicates
this page to the memory of Eric Lewis, who died in an
avalanche at the lower I cliffs on Wednesday, January 15, 2005.
He died doing what he loved, pursuing happiness turn after turn at
Alpental. Our sincere condolences go out to his family and
friends. May his life inspire us to live life to its fullest,
and his tragic death cause us to become more alert to very real
dangers in the mountains, especially that of avalanche.
Misc. Avalanche Articles:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002149470_avalanche13e.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6820648/
http://www.nwac.noaa.gov/documents/accidents/2000_2001/alpental_acci_01-30-01.pdf
http://www.wta.org/~wta/cgi-bin/wtaweb.pl?4+pr+10039
http://www.nwac.noaa.gov/documents/accidents/2003_2004/Alpental_Patrol_Accident_Report.pdf
http://www.hyak.net/articles/122396.html
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/dayart/20011227/avalanchebasics.pdf
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/52258_avalanche27.shtml
http://www.komotv.com/news/mnewsaction.asp?ID=29574
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