Step 1
Before you go backcountry attend an AVALANCHE AWARENESS COURSE NZ by the Mountain Safety Council.
Or A Backcountry Course by Alpine Guides
Step 2
Could you survive a night on the mountain?
Have a backpack with:
- Drink and food (dehydration)
- Spare dry gloves, hat and thermals
- Thermal Survival Bag.(hypothermia)
- 15m rope for white out (tie you together)
- First Aid Kit. (accidents do happen)
- Snow shovel
- Probe
- And wear a TRANSCEIVER.
Step 3.
- Make sure your gear works, New batteries in transceiver?
- Practice and play hide the transceiver with a friend. In the garden or the carpark before you go out.
- Practice with your shovel and probe.
- Skill & speed saves lives. You only have a short time
Step 4.
Check:
- With Ski Patrol for backcountry forecast. (www.avalanche.net.nz)
- the weather, old & new
- the snow layers, weak? Wind loaded?
- the terrain- 37° ? dangerous cornices? Gullies?, cliffs?
Step 5.
Remember:
- Tell others your plans and expected time home (pink form) knowing the location can save time in a search.
- Go in a group,
- Work as a group
- Keep asking about the snow & the weather.
- It might be a quiet question from the back of the group that alerts everyone to a change in the snow/ weather
IF YOU DON’T KNOW, DON’T GO.
