Breckenridge Real Estate Blog

The number of snowmobilers being killed in avalanches is rising. The Denver Post reports that from January through March, when most fatalities occur, half of the 26 avalanche deaths recorded in the United States and Canada were snowmobilers. That equals the number of skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers and climbers combined.

Colorado leads the nation on both number of avalanches and avalanche deaths, according to the (CAIC), Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
Avalanche experts Jill Fredston and Doug Fesler of the Alaska Mountain Safety center estimate that more than 60 percent of avalanche-related snowmobile deaths are attributed to the game called high marking. The newspaper says that as snowmobiles become more powerful, riders are taking them farther up steep mountain slopes, vying to get the highest on the slope before gravity overtakes them.

I think this is a growing problem based on results. Time is critical when someone is buried. If you are buried you have about a 9 in 10 chance of surviving but after 30 minutes your chances of survival drop to 50%. I would like to play a bit of our brothers keeper here a bit and remind our members just how dangerous and unforgiving nature is. As some of you may know, I fly helicopters. Yes, I’m privileged enough to command a pretty fast & powerful bird, but I still have a spiritual moment each time I fly over the Rocky Mountains. There are 3 words that come to mind every time. “ Respect for Nature”. I would like to see each snowmobile club in Colorado do more to promote avalanche awareness and the importance of the use of Avalanche Beacons and Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs), also known commonly as Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) and or Personal Locator Beacons, EPIRB. Time is precious when a person is buried in a slide. These devices can automatically send out an SOS and transmit your GPS location when activated. A transmitter picks up the signal and sends it to SAR communication centers as well as airports and yes even NORAD. Once your GPS location is known, that information can simply be inputted into the aircrafts GPS system on-board and SAR can fly directly to your location arriving within a matter of minutes. I also recommend carrying a smoke flare and or a small mirror to reflect the sun and catch the pilots eye. This is very important and can save precious time.

Getting SAR to scene of a slide where someone is buried sometimes has a whole list of challenges. For example, the high altitude and our air density in the mountains can make it very difficult at times to fly, by effecting the aircraft performance. It could mean the difference between landing and not having enough power to lift off or not. Helicopters are amazing machines but some people are under the impression they can hover at any height . That is simply not true. Depending on the altitude, barometric pressure, temperature, wind speed, and weight on board it can effect the aircrafts ability for both IGHE (in ground hover effect) and OGHE (Out of Ground Hover effect), not just over all altitude performance. For example St. Anthony’s Flight for Life, Life Guard Rescue Helicopter is a Eurocopter A-Star B3. At maximum weight (MGW) it has a service ceiling rate by the manufacture of being capable of reaching an altitude height of 14,600’ AGL. Again at MGW it has a OGHE ceiling 10,530’ and an OGHE at 12, 615’ AGL. Helicopters can not safely land a a slope greater then 5% without flipping over. This is known as “dynamic rollover”. It is possible to set the aircraft down along side a hill on one skid while maintaining rotor movement and hold against the side of the hill, but this is extremely dangerous for everyone on the ground. If a sudden gust of wind comes along the pilot risks a rotor strike with the ground.

Another challenge I have as a pilot and must be taken into consideration among a list of things while trying to land is, cross winds, to avoid a hazard known as LTE (Loss of tail rotor effectiveness), and be watchful of the rate of descent into a landing spot, so the aircraft does not experience what is known as “Settling with Power”. (SWP) is a condition which occurs when vertical or nearly vertical descent of at least 300 feet per minute and low forward airspeed exist. So depending upon the location of the victim, the altitude, aircraft performance, weather and physical environmental hazards like tall trees the pilot has to make a decision if he can land and if he is going to be able to lift off. I’ve talked about things the pilot has to consider to land but he also needs to take into consideration if he can he get the bird back in the air? Because of the altitude IGHE may not be possible and the pilot has to make a running start to reach (ETL) Effective Transitional lift, much like a fixed wing aircraft needs when it takes off or lands which occurs at around 15-20 knots. IS there enough room taking off into the wind to clear the trees? Do everyone a favor “ think twice about where you ride”. Take the time to educate your self and increase your survival skills and really importantly “carry survival gear”.

This sport is suppose to be fun and it can be if we always remember to use common sense.
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Jeffery McClintock
Colorado Snowmobile Association
District Three Representative