"The Human Factor" Behind Avalanches - David Page

Back country sports are dangerous by design – pursuing adventure in places that are remote often removes the athletes from the range of quick rescue. Back country skiers need to be frank in addressing risk, and trust their own decisions to ensure survival. But in Dan Page’s recent article for Powder magazine, he cites many examples of skiers unwittingly doing just the opposite. Page explains that in his research for “The Human Factor,” he learned that human mistakes are the cause of many avalanches. Page says that the best way to reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of an avalanche is to take as many decisions as possible out of the back country and follow firm safety rules that are created in response to the constantly changing snow and weather conditions.