Analysis of the Durrand Glacier Avalanche Accident

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Durrand Avalanche Report page 25 W. Information in the ACMG mountain guide’s training manual 1. The Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and the American Mountain Guides Association Technical Handbook for Professional Mountain Guides (1999) provides some general guidelines for traveling safely in avalanche terrain. Specifically, this manual states the following: (a) “Safe travel protocols for traveling in avalanche terrain that are treated as “rules” in recreational circles and taught as required learning on many avalanche courses are less applicable in guiding. This is not to say safe travel procedures are not used or inappropriate; only that they are tools which are used when required, not as a matter of course.” (b) “In some cases spreading out whenever in avalanche terrain can be more hazardous than staying close together. A spread out party is harder to manage and control, potentially leading to a situation where guides can’t provide adequate care in pacing, coaching, or observing clients’ condition which could lead to overexertion, unsafe techniques, or deterioration of health and well-being; all of which can be as great or greater a hazard than exposure to avalanche. Skiing one at a time can also cause a party to spread out and make it difficult for a guide to respond should a client require assistance. One at a time, while perhaps reducing exposure of skiers to avalanche terrain, can greatly increase exposure times of the party if mis-applied.” (c) “Skiing one at a time slows down progress and the extra time required must be factored into the decision. It may be more efficient and safer to avoid an area where skiing one at a time is required, even when avoidance involves a longer route, if the group can be kept together and can move constantly.” (d) “Guides must constantly evaluate and upgrade their evaluation of snow stability and avalanche hazard as they ski. Each run and every pitch requires a conscious decision be made: to ski it or not.” (e) “While it is impossible to be 100% certain about snow stability (just as 100% certainty is impossible in practically all hazard assessment, both in the mountains and out) guides must realistically analyze and forecast snow stability and avalanche hazard. If the potential for avalanche is low and the consequences are minimal, increased exposure may be acceptable.” (f) “Guides must accept that they will be in avalanche terrain and a small sluff in a glade can be just as deadly as a large slab in an alpine bowl. In all cases, the key lies in determining what and where the real hazard is, choosing an appropriate technique to manage risk, and above all, maximizing use of safe points in the terrain.” Copyright: no part of this report may be reproduced without the written permission of the author.
Durrand Avalanche Report page 26 X. The Association of Canadian Mountain Guide’s Code of Ethics 1. The first article in the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides Code of Ethics reads as follows: “The safety of our clients must be our prime concern at all times. All personal objectives and the objectives of our clients must be subordinate to this concern.” The third article of the ACMG Code of Ethics states: “Our clients have the right to expect all guides to be up-to-date on methods and techniques and to always use appropriate and well-functioning equipment.” The eighth article of the Code of Ethics states: “It is the duty of the executive committee of the ACMG to see that all members adhere to the articles of the code and take the necessary disciplinary action should any breach occur.” Copyright: no part of this report may be reproduced without the written permission of the author.
Page 1 and 2: Analysis of the Durrand Glacier Ava
Page 3 and 4: Executive Summary page 2 The destin
Page 5 and 6: Executive Summary page 4 (e) There
Page 7 and 8: Table of Contents page 2 Figure 14
Page 9 and 10: Durrand Avalanche Report page 2 Dan
Page 11 and 12: Durrand Avalanche Report page 4 6.
Page 15 and 16: Durrand Avalanche Report page 8 G.
Page 21 and 22: Durrand Avalanche Report page 14 K.
Page 27 and 28: Durrand Avalanche Report page 20 10
Page 29 and 30: Durrand Avalanche Report page 22 (h
Page 31: Durrand Avalanche Report page 24 2.
Page 39 and 40: Durrand Avalanche Report page 32 Re
Page 41 and 42: Durrand Avalanche Report page 34 Re

Analysis of the Durrand Glacier Avalanche Accident

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?