Winter deaths give outdoorsmen survival reminders

Two recent tragedies in Oregon where experienced outdoorsmen perished in winter snows serve as a reminder that you can never be too prepared when heading outdoors for the day.

Recreationists flock to Sisters and the rest of the Central Oregon region throughout the year to experience the beauty of the mountains. Whether on skis, snowshoes or snowmobiles, things can go from blissful to disastrous with a change of the weather, a breakdown of equipment or a wrong turn.

In recent incidents - a snowmobiler's death near Bend and the three climbers lost on Mount Hood - the lost were all described as "experienced." While experience is important, it doesn't always translate into survival.

Every outing involves some level of risk because you cannot control all the factors, and nature isn't necessarily very predictable or forgiving. Obvious pieces of the preparation/survival puzzle include appropriate clothing, familiarity with the area, navigation tools such as maps and GPS units, food, water, lighting, emergency shelter and a fire-starting kit.

Some more subtle yet equally important pieces include telling someone where you are going, talking the plan out with your party, checking the weather forecast up to the last minute and double-checking the integrity of all your equipment, whether it is your snowmobile's engine or your telemark ski binding.

According to The Mountaineers, a climbing and conservation group based in Seattle, there are "10 Essentials" to being prepared for an outing in the wilderness.

•Navigation tools: Maps of the area, compass and a GPS if you have one.

•Sun protection: Sun screen, sunglasses, and a hat.

•Extra clothing: Wool or other wicking materials for layers. Avoid cotton. Cotton kills. Gore-tex provides a fantastic waterproof shell.

•A flashlight or headlamp and extra batteries.

•First aid kit.

•Fire starting kit: Waterproof matches, butane lighters, canned heat, etc.

•Repair tools: Anything you might need to repair the gear or equipment you are using.

•Nutrition: No-cook foods with good energy such as fig bars, nuts, energy bars, cheese, bagels and dried fruit.

•Hydration: 1 liter for a half day and 2.5 liters for a whole day is recommended.

•Emergency shelter: At a minimum, an emergency space blanket.

In addition, Gabe Chladek, local outdoor expert, suggests you pay attention to some of the more subtle things, and he cautions people who have made a lot of trips into the wild to not get overconfident.

"A lot of people who have years of experience without trouble, have actually just been really lucky," he said. "You can't let down your guard in the wilderness."

Every member of the group should be prepared for survival, according to Chladek.

"You can't rely on someone else taking care of you."

Telling a responsible party exactly where you plan to go and when you intend to return is absolutely essential.

"If you lay out your plans in writing and get a commitment from someone to call search and rescue if you don't return on time, you can save your own life," he said.

Chladek also speaks of "heuristic traps," a term used frequently in avalanche safety training. Some heuristic traps include "familiarity," "social proof," "commitment" and "scarcity" according to Ian McCammon, a snow science expert who specializes in avalanche safety training.

Familiarity with an area is normally a positive safety component, but it can also lead to complacency. Just because you have safely traversed a slope on 10 previous trips doesn't mean it is going to be safe the next time. Check things out.

Social proof refers to the phenomenon of witnessing others' success and following suit. In other words, just because five other people made it to the top of a steep slope on their snowmobiles, doesn't mean you can throw your own caution to the wind.

Commitment refers to the tendency to take greater risks when you are trying to achieve a stated goal regardless of what evidence you have to the contrary, including darkness, weather changes and fatigue. An example of this might be having the goal of summiting a mountain or of covering a pre-determined distance.

Scarcity has to do with humans' natural inclination to value something more when it is not readily available. Seeking out incredible powder to ski through or striving for that "once in a lifetime view" for a photograph are examples of scarcity luring people to do things that may not be safe.

The risks involved when going out in the wilderness contribute to the excitement and adventure, according to Chladek, but preparing for the risks is essential. Practicing fire building, snow cave construction and using your map and compass are essential in keeping yourself calm if you ever do face an emergency.

"I think we all can agree that experiencing the wilderness safely is a goal we all share," he said.