Tree Wells Danger

MadsL

I had great fun yesterday skiing alone in the trees as I often do. I have been skiing for many years and have never even heard of this danger which apparently is responsible for 20% of fatal accidents.

I came across this video last night and it is terrifying and sobering. Be careful out there people, especially after massive dumps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVsqpquTvUQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVQWM2Axhvw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs2k-dGeWt8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzqcYLRNujE

MadsL

90% of people involved in Tree Well/ SIS hazard research experiments could NOT rescue themselves. If a partner is not there for immediate rescue, the skier or rider may die very quickly from suffocation - in many cases, he or she can die as quickly as someone can drown in water.

http://www.deepsnowsafety.org/index.php/what-is/

MadsL

As a simple cost effective self-rescue device, I'm adding a loud plastic whistle to my gloves.

Fattes

If you ski in Europe you don't have to worry about tree wells, exclusively a North American issue

fannymagee

OMFG I'm traumatised. Thanks for the nightmares MadsL!!! ;-)

lbj666

Fattes wrote: »

If you ski in Europe you don't have to worry about tree wells, exclusively a North American issue

Whys that Fattes? The type of trees ??

Fattes

lbj666 wrote: »

Whys that Fattes? The type of trees ??

A number of factors, most ski resorts in Europe have all or most terrain above the tree line.

Snow, completely different snow types and weather systems so the snow crystals settle and compact differently

And the trees, branches tend to be higher off the ground in Europe than in N.america so tree wells don't develop.

They have been known to form in Japanese resorts but are pretty rare. You have more chance of being stampeded by elephants in a blue run than finding a tree well in europe!