Motorsports - Avalanche Safety

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Well here we are: the end of October, with temperatures dropping, moisture starting to fall, hunting season in full swing, and summer toys being put away. There is also anticipation for snowmobile season! Most snowmobilers have an unexplainable stoke about watching the snow build up on the mountains. That means sled riding is right around the corner.

My name is Duncan Lee, I am a professional backcountry snowmobile athlete, motorized avalanche educator, and a truly addicted snowmobiler. I love the sport. No really, I have a deep passion for being out in the mountains on snowmobiles - exploring new areas, looking for new terrain, and enjoying the amazing moments it provides. Snowmobiling is a sport my whole family loves. But why does this matter? Well it's because even though I like to ride sleds deep into the backcountry, ride the deepest powder days, try new maneuvers, and jump my sled off everything possible, I have an obligation to make it home after every ride.

That is why I have taken formal avalanche education. I can tell you, not enough riders have taken a course on the snow. I thought having years of experience was enough, until I started taking classes. That was when I saw what I didn't know, and how much it could contribute to my snowmobiling fun in the safest ways possible.

If you ride snowmobiles in the western U.S., then it's almost a given that you're going to ride in or traverse avalanche terrain. Avalanches kill around 10 or more motorized users every season, which is about 50% of all avalanche fatalities in the U.S. each year. Almost all avalanche fatalities could be avoided.

You see, avalanches are not some random act of nature, but it's a recipe of Terrain, Snowpack, and a Trigger. Usually, when a person is involved, they are what triggers the recipe into producing an avalanche. First you need terrain over 25 degrees steep, but it’s even more likely over 30 degrees. The formation of the snowpack’s lay over the terrain, and changes to it, is what makes the difference between an unlikely, likely, or certain avalanche. The Utah Avalanche Center provides daily advisories for multiple regions. This is information that could save your life if you know what it means and how it pertains to the location and terrain you're riding.

There is a lot to know about snowpack and avalanches, but it's not rocket science. You can become a wise snowmobiler by taking a course, which is actually a very fun time. You get to ride for a few days with professionals, learning how to understand the snowpack better, and how weather changes affect it. With your newlyfound, wise surveying eyes, you can shred hard on the right days confident you’ll come home after every ride. Do yourself and all your loved ones a favor by taking an on-the-snow avalanche education course. The best place to start is a Recreational Level 1 course. It will open your eyes to a whole new way to look at the mountains and have yourself an exciting backcountry experience. See you on the mountain!

If you’re not sure where to look for motorized avalanches courses, check this out: https://avtraining.org/aiare-motorized-program/