What You Should Do if an Avalanche Happens

Suggestions on What to Do During an Avalanche

First, if you are going to go into the back country, take an avalanche awareness course. You must have and know how to use a tranceiver, avalanche probe, and shovel. If someone is caught in an avalanche, seconds count and you can't depend on a quick response from emergency services if you are in the back country. Email Teton County Search and Rescue or your local back country ski retailer for more information.

Rescuers standing on snow in snow suits.

Know Before You Go

This goes for any  activity or travel in avalanche prone areas. One way to get vital avalanche information is through the Bridger-Teton National Forest Back country Avalanche Hazard and Weather Forecast. This will provide you with detailed forecast information on avalanche hazards in the Teton County and Western Wyoming areas.

NOAA Weather / All-Hazards Radio  just recently began broadcasting avalanche warnings on behalf of the Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center. If you have a NOAA Weather Radio with an alert function, the radio will tone out whenever an avalanche warning is issued by the Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center.

Recovery Efforts

Avalanche response and recovery efforts are beyond the scope of this website. Check the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) for information on all aspects of avalanches.