| Posted: 1:54 p.m., Monday, October 6, 2003 |
The first Avalanche Advisory, either "General" or "5 scale", will be issued when needed. This is just a "get ready for the avalanche season" reminder. If you haven't done it yet it's time to get all those avalanche books and movies out to review the basics and those points that have confused you in the past.
Start with a review of the basics within the avalanche triangle (terrain, weather, and snowpack). When satisfied, move on to spatial variability concerns in an Artic Maritime regime, power law frequency-size relationships, and the importance of Alpha angles in a northern New England isothermal snowpack. The point is, don't feel like you need an advanced understanding of the lastest cutting edge research and concepts. A firm grasp of common avalanche theory should keep you out of dangerous situations most of the time. This is particularly true if you use common sense and you are self aware of your limitations.
So, winter is comming. Don't wait any longer to refresh your avalanche skills, including rescue techniques. Pull out your beacon and practice, ONLY YOU CAN SAVE YOUR BUDDY!! Review your safe travel rules, techniques for assessing snow stability, and sign up for an avalanche course. We will have all the avalanche courses offered in the valley this winter on our website, tuckerman.org very soon.
We are absolutely approaching winter in the high mountains so don't plan on being able to follow all summer trails safely. Trails going through Ravines and Gulfs are collecting snow in many areas and require appropriate winter gear and equipment.
Be aware of falling ice if we get into thaw periods before the real deep winter freeze. Many folks have been injured and killed by falling ice so pay attention to where you are, and don't linger when under ice. Have a plan in mind about what you will do and where you will go if ice comes down. Station yourself near a large rock to duck behind in the event of ice fall. Be ice smart.
WE WILL TALK TO YOU AGAIN WHEN THE NEED ARISES. HOPE FOR SNOW AND GET ALL YOUR AVALANCHE GEAR READY. HAVE A GOOD LATE FALL. IT WON'T BE LONG....
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