Utah’s greatest snow on earth also means avalanche country

While Utah has an abundance of high-quality snow, that can also mean avalanches.

There are many myths about avalanches, said Craig Gordon, avalanche forecaster for the Utah Avalanche Center.

Many people think there couldn’t be an avalanche early in the season since there isn’t enough snow. In reality, this is when many avalanches actually occur. Early-season storms, followed by warm and sunny weather, can actually cause the snow to lose its consistency.

“The snow gets weak and sugary,” Gordon said. “While the days may be sunny and warm, the clear, cold nights help to rot away the shallow snowpack, weakening its structural integrity, eventually making it fragile.”

Other avalanche myths are dispelled by the Utah Avalanche Center:

* Noise alone doesn’t set off an avalanche. A snap of a branch or a person shouting won’t create an avalanche. An explosive going off at close range could set off a reaction, however. In 90 percent of avalanche fatalities, the event is actually triggered by the weight of the victim or someone in the victim’s party.

* Trying to dig yourself out of an avalanche is futile. It’s much like being buried in concrete. Someone else must dig you out.

* You generally can’t outrun an avalanche. The debris can travel 60 to 80 miles per hour. A very fast snowmobile may be able to outrace it.

* A total of 25 percent of people in avalanches are killed by the trauma. The rest have approximately 15 minutes to survive under the snow. Being prepared means carrying a shovel, probe and beacon.

“There is no way you can dig yourself out of avalanche debris,” Gordon said. “Your group has to dig you out. That’s why, when you’re out and about, you definitely want to have a partner.”

Skiers and snowboarders should have some basic avalanche awareness education. Being prepared but also simply being aware and not triggering an avalanche is the best idea. A total of 93 percent of avalanche accidents are triggered by a skier or someone in their group, Gordon said. “We want to grow old doing the sport that we love,” he said. “We want to go out and be safe. Empower yourself with some avalanche knowledge.”

Go to www.utahavalanchecenter.org for information.