Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 8:24 pm Post subject: Simple Avalanche Checklists
This was posted in another thread. Any one have any more similar devices? Sounds like a good thing as a review to have on hand, written down.
Quote:
In a nutshell, there are 7 clues that should make one think twice about skiing a given slope (ALP TRUTH):
Avalanches (within the last 48 hrs)
Loading (by snow, rain, wind, in the last 48 hrs)
Path (is the slope an obvious slide path?)
Terrain Trap (are their terrain features that increase risk: gullies, cliff bands, tight trees, etc)
Rating (Considerable or higher rating by avalanche forecasters)
Unstable snow (as evidenced by collapsing, cracking, whomphing, etc).
THaw Instability (recent warming of the snow d/t sun, rain, warm temps).
McCammon found that in the vast majority human triggered avalanches, at least 3-4 of these clues were present but were ignored by the victim or the victim's party.
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:57 pm Post subject: Avaluator
This checklist on one side of the Avaluator released a little over a year ago by the Canadian Avalanche Association. It is a valuable checklist and is very much a foundation of the new AST 1 recreationist course.
Man, I can't believe how much I've forgotten in just a year. Closely related to alptruth, There's also a FACETS checklist ... 3 or more and Question whether you really want to be skiing that slope. Problem is, I can't remember all of the letters. Please help fill in.
F - Fresh snow more than ___" in last 24
A - Avalanches - signs of naturals in surrounding area
C - Considerable, rating of considerable or higher
E -
T - Terrain Trap
S -
Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 325 Location: West side of the Tetons
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 4:55 am Post subject:
Well actually FACETS is a HUMAN FACTOR checklist... looks like you were thinking of ALPTRUTH which is above
F -familiarity
A- acceptance (what is the dynamic WITHIN your group?)
C- Competition/ complacence
E- Ego or Expertise
T- Toll, aka wanna get fresh tracks
S- social proof (what is dynamic between your group and other groups?) Are there tracks in it?
That's yet another useful tool from Ian McCammon- can be found in his Heuristics articles at www.snowpit.com
What course did you take?
F - Fresh snow more than ___" in last 24
A - Avalanches - signs of naturals in surrounding area
C - Considerable, rating of considerable or higher
E -
T - Terrain Trap
S -
Thanks for the reminder/clarification.
Obviously, I need to head to the library and review this stuff. I think I've lost the book that we used (actually more of a pamphlet/workbook by Ian McCammon).
I can't believe how horrible my memory is.... My course was only a year ago! It was fantastic, and I would highly recommend it, but given that I've outed myself as an avalanche jong, I won't embarass my instructors by naming them publicly.
homemadesalsa wrote:
Well actually FACETS is a HUMAN FACTOR checklist... looks like you were thinking of ALPTRUTH which is above
F -familiarity
A- acceptance (what is the dynamic WITHIN your group?)
C- Competition/ complacence
E- Ego or Expertise
T- Toll, aka wanna get fresh tracks
S- social proof (what is dynamic between your group and other groups?) Are there tracks in it?
That's yet another useful tool from Ian McCammon- can be found in his Heuristics articles at www.snowpit.com
What course did you take?
F - Fresh snow more than ___" in last 24
A - Avalanches - signs of naturals in surrounding area
C - Considerable, rating of considerable or higher
E -
T - Terrain Trap
S -
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My course was only a year ago! It was fantastic, and I would highly recommend it, but given that I've outed myself as an avalanche jong, I won't embarass my instructors by naming them publicly.