Effectively Solo in the Backcountry

Where’s Jeremy’s Partner? Photo: Scott Schell

By Jeremy Allyn, NWAC Professional Observer

“Where’s My Partner?”

At the 10th annual Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop in 2017, Utah Avalanche Center Forecasters Evelyn Lees and Mark Staples gave a compelling presentation entitled “Where’s Your Partner?” In it, they showed an analysis of the U.S. avalanche fatalities over the preceding eight winters. They specifically focused on group size, group rescue response, and the avalanche factors that contributed to fatal outcomes. One of their most compelling findings was the high percentage of accidents in which a member of a particular group ended up “effectively solo.”

Lees and Staples defined being “effectively solo” as a scenario in which partners were unable to perform a fast and efficient companion rescue. Key contributing factors were further defined as:

• partner out of sight
• partner too far away
• partner also caught in an avalanche

Figure 1. U.S. Avalanche Fatalities from 2009–2017. ‘Other Solo’ are accidents in which there was not enough information to differentiate between ‘Solo’ and ‘Effectively Solo’. Credit: Lees & Staples, UAC

Figure 2. U.S. Avalanche Fatalities from 2009–2017. ‘Total “solo” deaths’ is a sum of ‘Solo’, ‘Effectively solo’, and ‘Other solo’. Credit: Lees & Staples, UAC

Most backcountry travelers would agree that it is not uncommon to suddenly find themselves alone, out of sight, and temporarily separated from their group. After 30 years of backcountry skiing and traveling in avalanche terrain, this still happens to me periodically, even with my best partners.

Solid travel techniques and group communication are particularly hard to learn from a book or blog. Experience and cumulative time spent in all types of avalanche terrain are really what we need. The appropriate mindset is critical too.

Many of the tried and true methods of effective or “low risk” travel follow the same basic concepts no matter if you’re on a snowmachine, skis, or a snowboard:

• Travel one at a time
• Keep partners in sight
• Get out of the way at the bottom

Additional techniques to consider so you don’t end up “effectively solo”:

• The first person works to establish better visual contact for everyone skiing the line. This could mean the first person stops in a truly “safe zone” high in the terrain to maintain better visual and voice contact. Establish your plan as a group before committing to a descent.
• In more complicated and complex terrain, consider shorter pitches or leapfrogging pitches provided there are truly “safe zones.” Avoid having a partner go out of sight.
• In heavily treed terrain, the main hazards are often shallow surface instabilities, tree wells and deep snow. Consider traveling parallel with your partners on separate lines. In deep snow it is easier to traverse than to ascend to help a partner.
• When the powder gets super deep, carry 25 feet of cord or a tree well extrication strap — these straps save lives.
• Use a sound map or “marco-polo” technique as you and your group travel through treed terrain. In bigger groups, buddy up in teams of two.
• Radios can be invaluable in facilitating tight group travel. However, nothing beats “eyes and ears on your buddy.” Watch for over-reliance on radios, especially in big and complex terrain.
• Maintain 360 degree awareness by practicing a “neck swivel” technique. This involves glancing back or to the side to see where your partners are or if the snow is moving behind you.
• In bigger alpine areas, consider spreading out spatially across the top of your chosen terrain to get multiple vantage points. A change in line of sight can help you better visualize of your partners.

Central to all these techniques is solid group decision making. Building consensus, communicating your plan, allowing everyone to have a veto, maintaining situational awareness in the terrain — all these things are critical for reducing risk in avalanche terrain. Hopefully these tips can help fend off that terrifying question “where’s my partner?”

This story was written by Jeremy Allyn, professional observer at the Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC). Follow Jeremy on Instagram here, and connect with NWAC on our website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Learn more about avalanche accidents in Washington and Oregon state via NWAC’s accident report database. Click here for accident statistics, and here for incident reports.

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