Safety Topic: Tree Wells - Page 3 - Snowboarding Forum

armybpc1985 · 11-12-2011, 09:53 PM

This was definitely an eye opener for me. I like to ride trees, and I never thought that there was any real danger to it besides slamming into tree. I figured I'm wearing a helmet so I'll be fine. I'll definitely be watching out for these possible tree wells from now on.

Toecutter · 11-12-2011, 10:03 PM

How long does the average victim survive in a well before finally succumbing? I picture it being only a few (like 3-5) minutes, but does it sometimes drag out longer?

AIRider · 11-13-2011, 01:56 AM

snowolf, you should sticky this for a few weeks, at least until the season is full underway, so more people read this.

armybpc1985 · 11-13-2011, 07:12 AM

I agree with you. This is good info that hopefully more people will view if it stays up longer. Who knows, maybe this bit of knowledge will save someone's life.

marcdeo · 11-14-2011, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toecutter

How long does the average victim survive in a well before finally succumbing? I picture it being only a few (like 3-5) minutes, but does it sometimes drag out longer?

IF the person fell head first and was 100% immediately suffocated without ANY air (picture a rear naked choke) then yeah, 5 minutes tops. that however is usualy not the case. I would imagine the death to be much more gradual, slow, torturous. Perhaps hanging upside down all night, then eventually dying from hypothermia.

marcdeo · 11-14-2011, 08:11 PM

Does anyone have any recommendations on the equiptment we should be using re: what brands/where to buy/what to look for/what items/what costs etc etc etc. I am assuming- whistle, shovel, probe......
a
that video opened my eyes. Im heading to Revy in January. Glades and la Nina could spell horrible tragedy - I must be prepared.

THANK YOU AGAIN for this thread!

AcroPhile · 11-14-2011, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toecutter

How long does the average victim survive in a well before finally succumbing? I picture it being only a few (like 3-5) minutes, but does it sometimes drag out longer?

I was stuck semi-upside down in a tree well once. Luckily there was a big air cavity by my face so I was able to breathe but getting out was a whole different story. As long as you have room to breathe you have some time. There was a video on the internet and the news last year of a guy that fell into a tree well with a Go-Pro cam or something. He was able to reach into his pocket and use his cell phone to call for help. There are avalanche reports on CAIC's website of avalanche survivors that were buried for hours before being rescued or digging themselves out. So I don't know if you can quantify the average time a person has to survive in a tree well before succumbing. There is a lot of factors at work here, primarily weather or not you are able to breathe and for how long. If you fall into a tree well right next to groomed trail chances are some will see you and be able to help you out quickly. If you're venturing a little further off piste an Ava-Lung many not be a bad idea. People do die inbounds at resorts from tree well incidents.

AIRider · 11-19-2011, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcdeo

Does anyone have any recommendations on the equiptment we should be using re: what brands/where to buy/what to look for/what items/what costs etc etc etc. I am assuming- whistle, shovel, probe......
a
that video opened my eyes. Im heading to Revy in January. Glades and la Nina could spell horrible tragedy - I must be prepared.

THANK YOU AGAIN for this thread!

When I saw that video, I was freaked out as well, an eye opener.

I just tied up a whistle in my jacket as well, just in case…

I think the best way to train for such thing, is to actually, purposely fall into one, (with your friends around of course) and try to get yourself out, because practice makes perfect, or at least will make you panic less.

Kwanzaa · 11-20-2011, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowolf

Inbounds within the ski area boundary. Groomed trails are generally safe from this. But watch for these small trees on the sides of the groomers; several fatal accidents have occurred within a few yards of groomed trails. I had an encounter with a snow bridge at Timberline one night early in the season. To the right of Vicky's Run is a small bluff that makes for a great natural kicker. I hit it hard and launched myself out into what looked like soft deep pow. What it turned out be was a giant snow bridge supported by thick, tangled 3 to 4 foot high pine saplings. I was tangled up in them that it took me forever to get out. I was in sight of the main trail and not more than 20 feet from it. Had I landed on my back, I could have gone in upside down easily.

On mount washing

I've once fallen into a 15 foot hole on the side of a groomer, but still within the runs boundries. It didn't make any sense how or why it was there, it was just a big open hole about 12 foot across 15 feet deep that went down to rock. There was i think 620cm base at that time. I fell into it because i was turning to head into the glades and i followed some ski tracks that went over a tiny roller, i got to the top and it was just like a small cliff.

another time I was going down a different run with some buddies and suddenly my friend did what looked like someone jumping for their life, and we stop and there's this black hole that went straight down about 4 foot across that my friend jumped over, no marking or anything, so we start riding a little more cautious and we come across 4 more of these holes that go down however many feet, like i said the snow base at that time was between 600-700cm. These where in the middle of a double black groomed run.

ThunderChunky · 11-20-2011, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AIRider

When I saw that video, I was freaked out as well, an eye opener.

I just tied up a whistle in my jacket as well, just in case…

I think the best way to train for such thing, is to actually, purposely fall into one, (with your friends around of course) and try to get yourself out, because practice makes perfect, or at least will make you panic less.

......I don't.....feel like this ......is a good idea.

11-13-2011, 01:56 AM	#23 (permalink)
AIRider Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 564	snowolf, you should sticky this for a few weeks, at least until the season is full underway, so more people read this. __________________ Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.

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11-12-2011, 09:53 PM	#21 (permalink)
armybpc1985 -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 28	This was definitely an eye opener for me. I like to ride trees, and I never thought that there was any real danger to it besides slamming into tree. I figured I'm wearing a helmet so I'll be fine. I'll definitely be watching out for these possible tree wells from now on.

11-12-2011, 10:03 PM	#22 (permalink)
Toecutter Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mt. Bachelor Posts: 1,512	How long does the average victim survive in a well before finally succumbing? I picture it being only a few (like 3-5) minutes, but does it sometimes drag out longer?

11-13-2011, 07:12 AM	#24 (permalink)
armybpc1985 -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 28	I agree with you. This is good info that hopefully more people will view if it stays up longer. Who knows, maybe this bit of knowledge will save someone's life.

11-14-2011, 08:11 PM	#26 (permalink)
marcdeo Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Toronto, CA Posts: 185	Does anyone have any recommendations on the equiptment we should be using re: what brands/where to buy/what to look for/what items/what costs etc etc etc. I am assuming- whistle, shovel, probe...... a that video opened my eyes. Im heading to Revy in January. Glades and la Nina could spell horrible tragedy - I must be prepared. THANK YOU AGAIN for this thread!