Glade Skiing and Riding

Glade Skiing and Riding

Glade skiing refers to alpine skiing through trees, either off-trail or along a defined woods trail. Skiers often seek out glades for their solitude, natural beauty, and pockets of ungroomed powder. The trees also help preserve snow, as they provide shade and shelter, allowing it to last longer.

Glade skiing is inherently more dangerous than skiing on groomed trails and is usually reserved for expert skiers. However, there are moderate glade terrains suitable for less experienced riders. Hazards such as cliffs, streams, and other obstacles may not be marked or blocked off by ski patrol. Additional dangers include tree wells, logs, stumps, concealed root systems, and the trees themselves.

To stay safe, it’s recommended that skiers wear a helmet, goggles, and gloves to protect against the trees and underbrush.

Keep in mind that glades are not regularly patrolled. Always be aware of your surroundings and exercise caution when skiing in trees or off-piste.

Tree Wells

A tree well is a void or depression that forms around the base of a tree. It typically contains a mix of low-hanging branches, loose snow, and air. Evergreen trees, such as fir and hemlock, are particularly prone to forming large, deep tree wells, as their branches block snow from filling in around the base of the tree. These voids can be hidden from view by the tree’s low-hanging branches.

There’s no easy way to visually identify whether a tree has a dangerous tree well. Therefore, treat all tree wells as potentially hazardous.

In simple terms, a tree well is a hole or void in the snow marked by the presence of a tree. While it may be easy to identify and avoid these areas, caution is always advised.

Information courtesy of www.deepsnowsafety.org. Visit their site to learn more.

Prevention Techniques

• Ski or ride with a partner and keep them in sight at all times. Research shows that 90% of people involved in tree well hazard experiments were unable to rescue themselves.
• Ski or ride in control.
• Keep a safe distance from tree wells. Focus on the open spaces between trees, not the trees themselves.
• Remove ski pole straps to prevent them from becoming tangled.
• In dense tree areas or poor visibility, ski or ride short distances and stop frequently to regroup. Always stay within sight of your partner.
• Keep your cell phone on you and share your real-time location with your riding partners via Google location sharing.
• Carry essential safety equipment, including a transceiver, beacon, Avalung, whistle, shovel, probe, and Recco.

What to Do if You Are in a Tree Well

• Yell or use a whistle to attract your partner’s attention.
• Do everything you can to keep your head above the snow, such as rolling or grabbing onto tree branches or the tree trunk. If possible, keep your feet below your head.
• If you become immersed, create space around your face to protect your airway. Resist the urge to struggle, as it could further entrap you.
• Stay calm to conserve your air supply.
• Trust that your partner is on their way to help.
• If possible, use your phone to call Sun Peaks Ski Patrol at 250.578.5521. Save this number before heading out!

What to Do if Your Partner Goes Down

More than half of Snow Immersion Suffocation (SIS) victims were with partners who did not see them go down. Losing sight of your partner could mean losing them. If you lose contact, assume they need help. Many SIS victims have died while their partners were waiting at the bottom of a lift.

• Don’t leave to get help—stay with your partner!
• Call for additional resources. Use a whistle or yell for assistance. If possible, contact ski patrol or the resort's emergency phone number.
• Evaluate the scene for safety.
• IMMEDIATELY begin snow immersion rescue efforts.
• Go directly to the airway and clear it, being careful not to push more snow into the hole. Continue first aid or extrication efforts as necessary.
• Do not attempt to pull the victim out in the direction they fell. Instead, determine where their head is and tunnel in from the side.
• When tunnelling toward the airway, be cautious not to push more snow into the hole. Continue expanding the tunnel until you can safely extricate the victim.