Safe Skiing Riding & Winter Sport
Avoid Outdoor Activity Dangers Before Heading Out To The Slopes.
Jan 22, 2008
Outdoor winter sports can bring fun and happiness, to say nothing of great exercise, to anyone who takes advantage of them. The range of activity is huge: skiing (which includes alpine, telemark and Nordic, or cross-country), boarding, snowshoeing, skating, sliding and ice climbing. Some even favor winter hiking and camping.
While no one would undertake any of these sports without knowing the basics of the activity, many participants do set about doing them without proper consideration of the environment in which they take place.
The dangers of outdoors winter sports can be many and they increase as the level of your activity increases. Alpine skiing is more dangerous than watching TV, snowshoeing in February is more dangerous than a woods stroll in June and ice climbing is more dangerous than either if not done properly.
Cold is the biggest danger to anyone participating in outdoor winter sport. The first line of defense in winter sports is to dress properly and use the right equipment. Even if the day is mild you should have warm clothes with you in case of trouble. Clothes that work for active exercise in the afternoon may not be warm enough when the weather changes. The gloves you use driving don't cut it on the mountain. If you are hurt and can't get out of the woods before dark you need more options.
Layered clothing is better than one thick piece of clothing. Multiple layers provide more insulation barriers and also allow you to add or remove items as your exercise level and outside conditions vary. It is a good idea to have a backpack to keep extras in. Sweat-soaked clothing is much less effective in keeping people warm than dry clothing so keep your level of clothing appropriate for your activity. Always watch for signs of frostbite on ears, face, hands and feet.
Another critical thing often forgotten is knowing where you are. People always know that when they start out but when the weather changes, which it often quickly does in winter, it is easy to lose track of where you are. If you are hiking a winter trail be sure to have a map and a compass (or better, a GPS device). In addition, don’t try it alone. Always buddy up with at least one other person and stay together.
A corollary of this is to stay on open ski slopes. If you venture off trail on your own you could easily end up in deep trouble even on a well frequented ski area. Remember, ski slopes and trails are closed because they have conditions that are deemed too dangerous for use because of ice conditions, bare ground or even avalanche danger. If you are injured there, chances are that no one will know because no one, including the ski patrol, goes there.
Likewise, if you are planning some back-country cross country skiing or snowshoeing, always do it with a friend. And you and the friend should have a basic sense of first aid. There is no ski patrol out there to pull your chestnuts out of the fire.
Rescue can take long hours, even days, and a lost or injured person is at the mercy of the elements during that wait. Rescue can also be expensive. Increasingly, governmental and volunteer rescue agencies are considering assessment of costs of rescue against the rescued person, especially if the rescue was occasioned by their ignorance or inappropriate behavior.
Now, are you afraid to go out this winter? Well don’t be. Be a Scout, be prepared. There is a world of fun and thrills out there and they will be as safe as you make them.
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