Thread: Web Avalanche info for everyone

As a newbie to the backcountry this year, I am trying to inform myself with as much info as possible. I am sure that no matter how much you read, nothing is better than the real thing, classroom, field training and talking with experienced people. I have started off with some light reading lent to me; Snow sense and Avalanche Wise put out by the CAIC.

I have also been trying to hunt down anything and everything that i can find here on the great wide intraweb. Some might be good, some might be crap, but I figured I would share what I found in hopes that it helps a few others. Feel free to trash, praise or add to this thread other resources that you are aware of.

This page at Couloir Mag has quite a series on "How to use Avalanche beacons" including Primary, secondary, Pinpoint, multiple victim and vertical plane searches. Also a Beacon review for 2004. All Pdf documents.

Also at Couloir mag there is an index of Avalanche articles, saftey tips and forcast sites.

The forest service has a basic intro on Snowpack, terrain, and weather.
Also there is a link to a Slide guide, kind of a basic into to Backcountry travel, preperation and saftey. Pretty informing for a beginner like me.


Then there is what appears to be a nice collection of articles at avalanche.org. This is part of the Backcountry Access Library project. Including lots of info on snowpack, slabs, forecasting, rescue, zoning, control, and more articles.

Articles about rescue and first aid @ Patrol.org under thier Instructor Resources and some more instruction pages here under topics.

Then of course there is the CAIC for the Colorado Backcountry people

I haven't spent a single day in the backcountry yet, so I am in no ways claiming that this is accurate or good information, just want to share what I have found. I'll let those that have the experience chime in and tell you how to stay safe.

moved from ski forum

Not sure you got sites like this in the US, but these are also helpful:

Avalanche Bulletin in my area:
http://www.slf.ch/avalanche/rb82-dec.html

And weather info/data both history & current:
(more important than a weather forecast for av conditions)
http://www.eyesonsky.com/meteos.php

And, for me, another major source is the local Av Control team.
Buy them a beer apres ski, they deserve it.

Avalanche.ca

Canadian Avalanche Center.

Don't forget Conway\\\'s Corner

Bump for the good stuff. Don't let your guard down.

www.csac.org

Regional Info
Northwest Weather & Avalanche Center www.nwac.noaa.gov/
Jackson Hole Avalanche Info www.jhsnowobs.org
Snow Pilot Program www.snowpilot.org - cool Palm Pilot program to make sharing & storing pit data easy.