Snow going: Preparation can help avert disaster
Source Lake is an avalanche hot spot below Snow Lake near Snoqualmie Pass. Check avalanche forecasts before venturing into the backcountry. By Karen Sykes.
Allison Wood, gear editor of Washington Trails magazine, is right on when she says, "The most important piece of safety equipment you need for winter travel is your brain." Unfortunately, too many hikers are not using their noggin when it comes to safely recreating in the outdoors, especially in winter.
Andrew Engelson, editor of Washington Trails, is concerned about tragedies and near disasters that have taken place in the mountains recently. "Heavy snowfall followed by slow warming and rain ... can progressively load and stress a multitude of buried weak layers, creating dangerous avalanche conditions," he warns.
Engelson offers life-saving tips for hikers: Always check avalanche conditions, choose your destination wisely, let someone know where you are going, always pack the "10 Essentials" and bring navigation skills.
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