The second and third avalanche fatalities of the season in Colorado happened on Sunday. One was at Vail Mountain on a closed ski run, and the second was near Winter Park. There was also an avalanche near Steamboat that involved two snowmobilers.
Experts say if you are skiing or snowboarding, you should try heading straight downhill to build up speed and then angle off to the side to get out of the avalanche's path. If you are close to the avalanche's "crown," you can try running up hill or off to the side. If you're headed up, there may not be much you can do.
Experts say snowmobilers have the advantage of power to try and get out of the path. However, large avalanches can travel 60 to 80 mph and can be difficult to outrun. According to experts, many avalanche fatalities happen when one snowmobiler gets stuck, and another person tries to go help them.
If you get caught in an avalanche, experts say you can try a few things:
- Grab a tree
- Swim
- Clear air in front of your mouth
- Push a hand upward
- Move before the avalanche stops, because the snow becomes like concrete when it settles
For much more information, visit http://avalanche.state.co.us/index.php.
(KUSA-TV © 2012 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)