Shoveling

Digging for a Victim

No matter how good you are at searching with a transceiver, if you don't have a probe and shovel the victim will probably die.

During training, it is easy to get so focused on the time that it takes to locate the transmitter that you forget that shoveling is the most time consuming portion of most avalanche rescues. You may be able to locate the victim within three or four minutes, but it is unlikely you will be able to shovel a meter of snow in less than 10 minutes (if you know of timed shoveling tests, please contact me).

The transceiver leads to the probe, the probe leads to the shovel, and the shovel leads to the victim.

Shoveling Tips

Deep Burial (9 ft or 2.7 m)

Leave the probe in the snow when it hits the victim and dig around it. This will keep you on target and reduce the likelihood that you will be standing on the victim (who may be struggling to breath).

Begin digging on the downhill side of the probe at a distance of approximately 1.5 times the burial depth (i.e. probe depth). This makes it easier to clear the excavated snow and prevents the shovelers from struggling at the bottom of a cone-shaped hole. It also reduces the likelihood that rescuers will be standing on top of the victim.

Rotate the lead shoveler frequently (approximately every four minutes) to reduce fatigue. The other shovelers should help by moving the discarded snow further downhill from the hole.

Learn about the "V-Shaped Conveyor-Belt Approach" which is a well researched technique for shoveling.