Skiing or riding in treed areas and deep snow is a choice.

The easiest and most important prevention step is to remain on groomed trails (see Groomed and Ungroomed Trails section). Be aware of the deep ungroomed powder at the very edges of the groomed runs.

Remember, most of these accidents happen in treed areas during or right after deep snowfalls. Resisting the urge to ski or snowboard through the trees during deep powder conditions, no matter how inviting the untracked powder looks, is the easiest deep snow accident prevention.

If you choose to ski or snowboard in the ungroomed, deep snow areas with trees, remember:

DO NOT LEAVE TO GET HELP,
it will not arrive in time. Remember, if your partner is buried under the snow, time is of the essence and your quick actions to pull or dig them out are your partner's best hope for survival. In most cases, you are the only hope.

Yell for help, but stay there until you have recovered your partner. Make attempts to uncover the head first and help create an airway. When you uncover their head, make sure there is no snow in the mouth and that they can breathe.

Always stay in visual contact so that they can see you if you fall. Visual contact (See photos # 1-3) means stopping and watching your partner descend at all times, then proceeding downhill while he or she watches you at all times. It does NO GOOD if your partner is waiting for you in lift line while you are riding down.

Stay close enough to either pull or dig you out. If you have any question about what "close enough" to assist someone in a tree well is, hold your breath while you are reading this. The amount of time before you need air may be how much time your partner has to pull or dig you out of danger. Other factors such as creating an air pocket or the position you fall in, may affect this critical timeframe.

Remember, if you lose visual contact with your partner you could lose your friend. It is important to know that most people who have died in deep snow or tree well accidents had been skiing or riding with "partners" at the time of their accident. Unfortunately, none of these partners were in visual contact so they were not able to be of help in a timely manner.

There have also been many cases WHERE PARTNERS HAVE RESCUED SOMEONE in a tree well or deep snow accident and SAVED THEIR LIFE!