When Cody Country Snowmobile Association hosted its annual avalanche training clinic Friday and Saturday the participants saw Park County search and rescue in action following the outdoor portion of the clinic in the Beartooth Mountains. 

During a free time to ride after completing the training two riders were injured while snowmobiling near Island Lake. The first individual bruised his back after jumping his snowmobile off of a “small cornice” and flipping over backward. After being examined by Dr. Lisa Harvey at the safety shelter it was determined the individual did not suffer major injuries and was advised to seek further examination after returning to Cody. Later a second snowmobiler struck a rock which resulted in serious injuries. He was quickly attended to by SAR and transported back down the mountain, said Cody Country Snowmobile Association Director Bert Miller.

Miller said he did not witness the accident but had heard that the rider had struck the side of the rock resulting in serious damage to the snowmobile and the rider. The rider was transported down the mountain by SAR and taken by ambulance to Cody Regional Hospital where he was treated for broken ribs and a broken collar bone, as well as a possible punctured lung.  

Miller said Park County SAR is highly professional and a valuable resource in an emergency situation. Some of the SAR volunteers are also local doctors, including Harvey and Aaron Billin as well as physician assistant Kayla Nagle. 

“It was unbelievable watching these doctors go to work,” Miller said.

Despite the day’s non-training related excitement Miller said “the training during the day was nothing but a success.” Miller applauded the training team who bring new information yearly and thanked local and state sponsors for their support. 

Eric Knoff of Six Points Avalanche Education and his team facilitated the training with sponsorship from Wyoming State Trails via the Teton Avalanche Center. The clinic was split into two days. Friday night was a classroom portion hosted at the Holiday Inn in Cody, while Saturday involved training in the Beartooth Mountains with snowmobiles and safety gear. Knoff and his team covered a variety of topics including avalanche fatality statistics, the five different types of avalanches and tips to prevent avalanche related incidents.

While there were only three fatalities in the 2022-2023 season (two in Colorado and one in Cooke City) Knoff said 2021 was the worst recreational year in history, due to a higher rate of people being outside. He added that nationally motorized fatalities only account for one-third of avalanche deaths nationally but this amount is higher in the area. 

There are five types of avalanches and he said a persistent slab avalanche is the most concerning. This is when a slab of snow is released after a persistent weak layer breaks. These avalanches can last anywhere from days to months. These avalanches can also move across entire mountain slopes. Knoff said there are four factors for a persistent slab avalanche: a steep slab, “a cohesive layer of snow” (slab), a weak layer and a trigger. 

In order to avoid a slab avalanche the best thing to do is select terrain by looking for slope angle (between 30-45 degrees, with 37-38 degrees being the most dangerous) as well as connected terrain. Even if a rider is in a low danger area it may connect to a nearby slope that poses a threat. Knoff advised that riders can download measurement apps on their phone that can aid them in figuring out the angle of a particular slope. Riders should find the way to the top of the mountain using lower slope angles and being aware of connected terrain instead of taking steeper slopes which may slide. 

It’s important to have and to know how to use is proper avalanche gear. This includes air bags, shovels, beacons and probes. It was noted during the clinic that in this year’s avalanche fatality near Cooke City the rider did not have a beacon. This piece of equipment allows buried riders to be located in the event they are caught in an avalanche.

Also discussed was the importance of preparing before the trip and practicing open communication. While snowmobiling groups should stay together, listen to concerns about terrain and “respect any veto.” A list of common traps included social pressure, false confidence, close mindedness and taking shortcuts. Riders should also cross terrain one at a time. 

Miller and the Cody County Snowmobile Association thanked the many sponsors for helping to provide this educational resource. To learn more about avalanche statistics in the U.S. visit avalanche.org.