Avalanche course teaches avoidance and survival

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 17, 17 September 1985, Page 6

Avalanche course teaches avoidance and survival

Graham Ayres, park ranger, at Tongariro National Park ranger station, Whakapapa, wants to warn people who ski away from ski patrol areas of the avalanche hazards which are ever present on the mountain. "There are a growing number of people who are moving out of the skifield areas during the day into avalanche areas," says Graham. But he is finding it difficult to interest people in learning about the hazards. He said people were just not interested unless there were a lot of avalanches. Graham along with Steve Breyfogle and Ian Goodison, has held three avalanche awareness courses during the ski season. All three men are committed to informing the public because they foresee a time when there will be a heavy snowall and the education of people will pay off. "The big step now is that people are accepting there is an avalanche hazard," said Graham. This year there have been a number of avalanches, but there have been no situations when people have been caught in them. However in 1981, which

was a good snow year, there were three deaths on the mountain due to avalanches. In 1982 a class five avalanche was recorded, the largest known class of avalanche, which is capable of destroying a village or a forest of 40 hectares. Most avalanches on the mountain are class one to two', which were unlikely to

kill or injure a person, Graham said. Next year, the rangers will hold more avalanche awareness courses and they hope to generate more interest. Topics covered during the one Qr two-day courses include what avalanches are, how the snow got there, what makes it slide, how to keep out of trouble and what to do if it slides.