When discussing the dangers of backcountry riding, avalanches are one of the first things that come to mind. However, there is another danger when at treeline or below, that has caused 70 fatalities in the last 20 years. Tree well suffocation, also known as Non-Avalanche-Related Snow Immersion Death, or NARSID for short.

Here in the Kootenays, the majority of the backcountry skiing is being done at or below treeline, and especially now that the storms are rolling in, it is often seen to be a safer place to be than a large face with an alpine start zone. Whitewater Ski Resort has added NARSID training to its annual Avalanche Days weekend. The awareness of this danger has grown in the last few years, and it is great to see it added to the conversation locally. Do you know what to do if you, or one of your group ends up in a tree well?

Whitewater Ski Resort Avalanche Awareness and Tree Well Safety Days aim to give you some ideas on how as part of a weekend orientated towards backcountry safety. Starting today, 20th January, with a Park’s Education Session at 10am. Throughout the weekend, there will be demonstrations from a CARDA team, Snow profiles, and a Tree well rescue simulation. You can find all the times here.
 

Helicat Canada also gives a good breakdown of tree well dangers here. As with all backcountry dangers, skiing or riding with a group and being aware of your surroundings mitigate some of the risks, but not all. Learning more about how to perform different types of rescues can also help, should the worst happen.