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In mountain areas always assess avalanche danger and carry an electronic tracking device.

• Create a trip (difficulty, length, danger exposure) that takes into consideration current conditions,people’s interests and skills, terrain and other hazards.
• Ensure group members have proper avalanche safety training.
• Carry survival equipment in a backpack including: shovel, probe and spare batteries and wear your transmitter.
• Test the transceiver’s transmit and receive functions at home.
• Ensure all transceivers are on transmit before leaving the trucks for the ride.

Route Selection. It’s Up to You - Know Before You Go:

• Travel low angle slopes, heavily treed areas, ridges and broad valley bottoms to avoid avalanche paths.
• If you choose to ride an avalanche slope, minimize your risk.
• Avoid slopes with excess wind loaded snow.
• Learn the significance of wind, sun, shade and terrain shape on avalanche danger.
• Be aware of escape routes and safe stopping areas.
• Avoid terrain traps or terrain features that can:

Always ride in a group.

• Maintain constant visual contact at all time.
• Cross suspect slopes one at a time.
• Use a hand signal for “avalanche path…spread out”.
• Listen to concerns of all group members.

Travel Habits

• Park in safe areas, pointed to safer areas (escape route).
• Kill switch up.
• Allow the snow to settle after a storm.
• Test (track up) small slopes with low consequences.
• Test slopes using wide, fast passes before placing yourself in committing terrain.
• Make sure that only one machine is on the slope at any time, even if your buddy is stuck.

DO NOT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN, slopes can avalanche even after multiple
passes. If you’re caught in an avalanche, try to:

• Call out, draw attention to yourself.
• React fast, attempt to ride out of the slide.
• If no longer in control, separate yourself from your snowmobile.
• FIGHT HARD with swimming motions, trying to stay on top of the snow.
• Grab trees, rocks, etc. to avoid being tumbled down the slope.
• Keep your mouth closed and your teeth clenched.

When the avalanche slows, DO:

• Use your hands to create airspace in front of your face.
• Wiggle to make airspace around your body.
• Thrust an arm to the surface.
• Once the avalanche stops the snow sets up like concrete.

When the avalanche stops, DO:

• Remain calm.
• Control your breathing to conserve your oxygen, relax.
• Shout only when rescuers are very near (sound does not travel well within the snow pack).
• Searching for a Victims

The most experienced person in the group should:

• Take a moment to organize the search party.
• Consider the possibility of another avalanche before attempting a rescue. Set an escape route and post a lookout if necessary.
• Mark the last seen point of the victim(s).

Search with Beacons:

• Ensure all rescuers’ beacons are switched to receive.
• Spread out at 30 meter intervals to cover the debris.
• Look for surface clues: a hand, hat, glove, etc.
• Don’t litter the slope with rescuers’ belongings.
• Search around and downhill of any clues.
• When a signal is picked up assign one or two to locate it while others continue the search.
• Pinpoint the signal to a small radius, then probe to find the victim.
• Without removing the probe, quickly dig out the victim.
• Turn the victim’s beacon to receive if others are still buried