Breckenridge Real Estate Blog

In the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in popularity of mountain recreation. Advances in equipment and skills have made it possible for mountaineers to delve further and higher into the back country. And with the increased interest in adventure, there lies an increase in the need for qualified rescue mountaineers. Each year, back country users will make decisions that result in accidents. Whether by bad decision making or by simple bad luck, back country users will often need the assistance of qualified rescue mountaineers. And while it is critical that rescue groups work to fine-tune their skills at rescue operations, it is equally essential that rescuers have a clear understanding of risk assessment and hazard evaluation.

AVALANCHE FACT SHEET

➢ Most avalanches CAN be avoided.

➢ Most avalanches, involving a victim, are started by that person or a companion.

➢ Most avalanches occur on slopes of 30-to-45 degrees, during or following a major snow event.

➢ Most victims have some avalanche training and consider themselves skilled in their sport.

➢ More avalanche fatalities occur in Colorado than any other state (averaging 6 per year).

➢ Approximately 1/3 of all of the nation’s avalanche deaths have occurred in Colorado.

➢ The local county sheriff is responsible for and coordinates ALL back country emergency responses including (non ski-area) avalanches.

➢ The Colorado Avalanche Information Center provides daily weather and avalanche condition updates: (303) 275-5360 or www.geosurvey.state.co.us/avalanche/

More AVALANCHE INFORMATION

A major snow event is a snowstorm that produces a snowfall rate of 1-inch per hour or greater for several hours or 10-inches or greater in 24 hours. This will generally cause avalanche danger to increase significantly. Strong winds of 15 to 50 mph can elevate avalanche danger dramatically after as little as an hour – even when no new snow is falling.

Someone completely buried in an avalanche has a 90% chance of survival if they’re uncovered within the first 15 minutes (absent any life threatening trauma-related injuries); someone buried 30 minutes has approximately a 50% chance of survival. The chances of survival drop dramatically after 30 minutes.

Very few people, caught in an avalanche, have been able to dig themselves out. For someone completely buried, their survival depends solely on the quick actions of the other members in their party. Avalanche beacons, shovels and probe poles are essential pieces of equipment for anyone traveling in avalanche country.

“If my partner’s caught in a slide, should I immediately go for help?”

NO. You are that person’s BEST chance for survival. Do everything possible to locate the subject, and then go for help. If you have additional manpower, have someone go for help AND call 9-1-1, while you continue recovery efforts.

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Flight for Life Colorado is a non-profit organization. The work these people do is extremely heroic and requires tremendous dedication and courage as well as a great deal of personal risk to help others in need, says Jeffery McClintock, Breckenridge Realtor and helicopter pilot. Although I have no direct connection with the air medical community, I recognize the work these professionals do is truly above and beyond. The situations they are sometimes called upon and perform under pressure is mind boggling. We are lucky to have them.

Colorado FFL is The ONLY Air Medical Transport Service who responds to back country rescues in Colorado! When a patient is in need of emergent transport financial status is not a consideration, and Flight For Life Colorado responds regardless of the patient’s ability to pay. Because of this, and the high costs of aviation services, operating expenses are high. They depend on corporate and private donations to help with capital equipment needs. Please consider donating to this incredible community asset !

FFL provides trauma transport across several states’ highways and skyways and responds as a part of the Avalanche Deployment Program which airlifts and inserts a Level II Certified Snow Tech, Certified Avalanche Dog & handler (certified through SARDOC or Summit County) and a highly trained medical crew in the event of a back country rescue when reported or witnessed burials, missing persons, or tracks in and no tracks out. FFL operates with four helicopters, three ambulances and two airplanes owned by Air Methods, Inc. in Englewood Colorado. FFL is a part of the Centura Health organization.