Man almost dies in tree well

This is super scary and truthfully there are deaths every year in tree wells and other non-avalanche deep snow suffocations. There have already been quite a few reported this season. When the snow is deep it’s always a good idea to ride with a friend, especially when riding in the trees. Carrying a whistle on you is also a good idea. If you happen to get stuck, you will be able to use your energy more conservatively by blowing a whistle rather than shouting out. When riding out of bounds, at the very least ride with a crew, carry a mobile phone, and really you should have avalanche safety gear (transceiver, shovel, and probe). If you ever do find yourself in a tree well, do not panic, do not struggle; that is a sure way to make a bad situation even worse. Anyway, watch the video and you’ll see how lucky this guy was.

http://media.theage.com.au/selections/half-an-hour-buried-in-two-metres-of-snow-2260640.html

Oh man that’s a freaky position to be in.

Similar incidence has happened to me, twice:

1. My first year boarding I collided with a tree, bounced around it and fell into a pocket of snow on the down hill side of the tree. The impact to the tree semi paralysed me - couldn’t move for 20min. This was in Smiggins, skiing with friends but none of them saw me go down, and no one could find me, calling for help didn’t alert any one - I eventually unclipped from my bindings, rolled onto my board and sled myself (laying on my board as I was still semi paralysed) 20m to the nearest T-Bar. 20 meters and the lifty couldn’t hear me calling!!

2. Golf Course Bowl-Thredbo with 3 others; I boarded over a noll and didn’t see a sink hole , straight into it I went. It must have been over 15’ deep and my board lodged itself half way down. Luckily I was upright. My mates didn’t see me go in, one second I was there the next gone. With my hand fully stretched to the sky my finger tips were just visible. One of the guys stopped to wait for me and spotted my fingers poking out, I had thrown my camera up and out so it didn’t fall into the gushing stream below me, it also made a good marker. I had to dig foot holes in the wall of the sink hole, dislodge my board and hold it tight so it didn’t end up in the stream. My mate had hold of me and was struggling to pull me out. It took about 40min to save me.

A similar thing happened to me (story 2) at Thredbo a few years ago. I was just beyond the boundary ropes, we found some really nice snow with rock drops and pillows the whole way down (I forget where we were exactly). I aired blindly off one of the drops and literally landed in a deep hole. I managed to anchor myself as I landed, my head/arms barely visible. I was unable to move, I couldn’t get out as my board was anchoring me down there nor could I reach for my bindings. My biggest fear was slipping and falling into the gushing stream of water below. If I fell I probably would have been dragged under the snow and surely would have drowned. Lucky my friend was there to help me. When he heard the desperation in my voice he unstrapped and ran back to help me; even so it took us ages to get me out of there. Dangers on the mountains are real, even in Australia. Be careful everyone!

If you ride alone stay on groomed, amongst other people. 20m out of site and you could be gone forever.

NEVER be adventures alone, and it isn’t safe with 2 people either. 3 is a minimum; 1 can go for help while the other stays with the injured.

Always decide your line at the top of a run and discuss it with your group, designate meeting spots were everyone waits - usually with visual of the last shoot.

In Aust I know of only a few peeps that carry avi gear. When heading OB I carry a shovel. After my Avalanche experience in ‘09 I want a transceiver (maybe I should hire them) A probe would make a great PoleCam!!!!!

The shovel I use mostly for building jumps and snowmen but it increases the risk of survival by 20%, a Probe-20%, Transceiver 20%. Carrying all three gives you a 60% chance of surviving an avalanche as long as someone in your party is carrying the same stuff and it isn’t buried with you (the transceiver is good to be buried with) but if no-one else has one how will it assist?

I’m getting a whistle it’s going on a Lanyard. Probably adds another 20%.

Such a scary vid and experience! I had an exchange teacher in primary school from canada and i remember her telling us to be careful of them!!

holy shit!!! i’m always gonna ride with someone from now on, plus have a mobile phone

if we’re just talking about treewells then an avalung is quite good. Riding leapfrog-style with buddies is smart riding in trees/backcountry. The trouble is, if someone goes down and nobody sees it, it’s easy to assume the guy has gone ahead.
Many packs have chest strap buckles that are whistles.

im going to check to see if my jacket has a whistle…

There’s one brand (I think Sessions or Bonfire) where the main jacket zip is actually a whistle. I always thought it was pretty clever.

Very scary stuff! Lucky the guy made it.

My wife would be right behind me and stop and drag me out.

Well I would hope so anyways

I would have been screwed, Michelle is so careless in the trees. 

Hey you are the careless one. I always stop and make sure that everyone is alright, you are the one that just waits at the end and hopes everyone makes it out.

After my experience with a tree well in Whistler, I can understand why even the pros ride in packs. I never do trees on my own and if I had been when I hit that tree well I would of been in all sorts. Being prepared or riding with experienced people is always going to be the best bet.

I do remember someone taking photos and some others helping me out hmmmmm

A whistle seems like a great idea, small, compact and easy to use.

Lesson is, if you want to ride the pow, be prepared, don’t be stupid and always know where you are in case your not able to see due to being buried.