Avalanche Safety Survey Question Title * 1. How would you rank your backcountry knowledge/skill level Novice (basic understanding of avalanche terrain) Intermediate (understanding of more advanced terrain evaluation and snowpack evaluation) Advanced (advanced snowpack evaluations skills used frequently) Expert (avalanche safety professional instructor, avalanche forecaster, ski patrol, professional guide) OK Question Title * 2. What formal training have you had? Snow Safety course other than those listed below Level 1 course Level 2 Course Level 3 course Professional guide training OK Question Title * 3. What informal training have you had (select all that apply) Self taught: Just getting out there and figuring it out Self taught: experience + books, websites, videos Friends: picked it up on the fly when in the backcountry with friends Mentors: semi-formal education from more experienced backcountry partners OK Question Title * 4. How Many days per season on average have you spent in the back country? 1-2 3-5 6-10 11-20 20+ OK Question Title * 5. What resources do you use routinely use to make decisions during trips into avalanche terrain? (choose all that apply) Snow tests Obvious clues Other ski tracks Maps (avanet, caltopo, USGS maps) Personal Experience OK Question Title * 6. What best described how often, if ever, you practice any of the rescue skills: beacon finding, Probing, and/or Shovel Rescue? Never Once a season Several times per season Once a month per season Once a week per season or more OK Question Title * 7. How many times, if ever, have you or a member of your group been caught and/or carried in an avalanche? Never Once More than once OK Question Title * 8. What of the below might be an avalanche terrain trap? A cliff band A Cornice A steep gully with a clear run-out A crevasse OK Question Title * 9. What is the alpha angle: 10 degrees 20 degrees 30 degrees 40 degrees OK Question Title * 10. At what danger rating do most avalanche fatalities occur? Moderate Considerable High Extreme OK Question Title * 11. What are safe travel procedures? Close together so you don’t loose your partners Stop beneath slopes to keep an eye on others in your group One at a time between areas of lowest risk, but still only skiing one at a time Two by two so you always have a partner close by if anything happens OK Question Title * 12. Before starting a day in the backcountry, what essential step should each group member take before leaving the parking lot? Ask another group about the avalanche report Preform a two stage beacon test (checking Send & Receive modes) Scope whatever lines you can see from parking lot, and plan your day based on those observations Dig a snow-pit and assess any loose or faceted layers OK Question Title * 13. What was the most significant avalanche problem listed in today’s report? Persistent slab Wind Slab Storm Slab Wet Slab Glide Cornice Deep Persistent Slab Loose Wet None of the above Today's Date: OK Question Title * 14. Which of the following persistent weak layers factor into the largest percentage of avalanches? Loose dry snow Surface hoar Wind pressed slab Depth Hoar OK Question Title * 15. What is a persistent weak snow layer? Dendrite Facet Capped column Rime OK Question Title * 16. Which of the following observations does NOT suggest an increased likelihood of an avalanche?: Recent avalanche activity Heavy Wind loading Obvious Terrain Traps Rapid Temperature rise >1” of S.W.E. in the last 24-hours OK Question Title * 17. Under which Conditions is Faceting of the Snow most likely to occur? Shallow snow pack, cold conditions, clear skies Deep snowpack, warm conditions Heavy wind loading Rapid temperature fluctuation OK Question Title * 18. On which aspects do most avalanche accidents occur? NW NE SE SW OK Question Title * 19. According to research, half of all fully buried avalanche victims are likely to die of asphyxiation after… 15 minutes 30 minutes 1 hour 2 hours OK FINISH