As more and more snow starts to hit the ground, now is a good time for skiers and snowboarders to get a reminder of the danger of tree wells out on the mountain. In snowy conditions these traps develop around the base of trees, creating a potentially deadly situation for skiers and snowboarders that fall into them.
Bend snowboarder Francesca McLean was with her husband and two friends at Mount Bachelor when she fell into a tree well. Though her friends quickly arrived to help, she still spent what felt like five minutes in the trap, struggling to breath through it all. When she was finally pulled out, she was gasping for air.
Following the incident, McLean pushed to remind skiers and snowboarders about the danger of tree wells, encouraging everyone to ride with friends (it’s safer & more fun) and to always keep and eye out for where your friends are.
Mount Bachelor Tree Well Safety Guidelines:
Tree wells are formed when snow accumulates around the base of a tree but not under the lower hanging branches, creating deep pockets of soft, unstable snow. A tree well or snow immersion suffocation (SIS) accident can happen when a skier or snowboarder falls, usually headfirst, into a tree well or deep loose snow and becomes immobilized. Similar to the effects of an avalanche, the incident can leave the skier buried without air, leading to suffocation.
If you decide to explore off-piste you are voluntarily accepting the risk of a deep snow immersion accident. The most effective way to avoid this danger is to always ski or ride with a buddy in sight. Don’t have a friend to ride with one day? Stick to open, groomed runs, or make friends with another solo skier or rider out on the slopes! We support #friendsonapowday on our social media and hope you will too.
Take the time to educate yourself on how to get yourself out of a tree well and how to safely help a friend escape. For more information about SIS and tree well safety, visit https://www.deepsnowsafety.org/.