Avalanche Safety
Avalanche Control
Mt. Bachelor maintains a Snow Safety Program througout the operating season in the interest of the overall public and employee safety. This program consists of avalanche forecasting, monitoring known avalanche hazard areas, avalanche control and protection methods, Mt. Bachelor rescue plan, training and continual education of patrol personnel, and the education of employees, special interest groups, and the general public in avalanche safety and awareness. Please respect avalanche closures.
Helpful links:
http://www.nwac.us/
http://nsidc.org/snow/avalanche/
http://coavalanche.org
Mt. Bachelor Ski Patrol: Pro and National
Mt Bachelor employs a team of 28 Pro Patrollers, most are EMT's trained in avalanche safety, use of explosives, rope rescue, toboggan handling, wilderness response and more. On weekends in partnership with approximately 60 National Ski Patrollers, the teams work together to open and close the Mountain, determine trail safety and assist anyone who becomes injured. After storms, our Pro Patrol unit conducts avalanche control and are communication liaisons in the case of an operational irregularity.
For more information on Mt. Bachelor National Ski Patrol, visit their website at www.mtbachelornsp.org.
Avalanche Dog Program
Mt Bachelor's Avalanche Dog Program is one we are proud to offer. Our dogs (from left: Makita, Wyatt and Kenai) join their handlers on the mountain every day for continued training and conditioning to ensure the safety of our guests. These specially trained dogs are skilled in locating victims beneath the snow after a slide. They are also very skilled in locating snacks.
You can support the Avalanche Rescue Dogs by purchasing a T-shirt at the top of Pine Marten Lift or at Mountain Medical located east of the West Village Lodge. All proceeds go directly towards the purchase of food, insurance and certification programs for the dogs. Receive 3 Avalanche Dog trading cards with your purchase. These cards list the skier responsibility code or the avalanche safety code on the back and are terrific for kids, new skiers and veterans!
How to avoid getting caught in an Avalanche
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1. Pick the right day. Recent wind, snow, rain and rapid or prolonged thaw are signs of danger.
2. Be alert for recent natural avalanches, whoomping sounds and shooting cracks. These are signs of unstable snowpack.
3. When you are in terrain steeper than 30 degrees, always travel one at a time while others watch from a safe location.
4. Travel on the windward side of ridges. Never stop on or below steep slopes and cornices.
5. Avoid terrain traps such as gullies where even small avalanches can pile up deeply.
BCA Beacon Training Park
Thanks to BCA for donating the equipment and making our training park one of two test parks in the state.
Backcountry Access Beacon Training Parks (BTPs) are training systems created to make it easier for recreationists and pros to practice with their transceivers. It features 4-10 permanently buried transmitters wired to a central control panel. To change the scenario, just flick the on/off switches on the control panel. Instead of digging holes and reburying beacons all day, you spend your valuable time actually practicing with your transceiver. For more info check out the BCA Website.
