How to Survive an Avalanche

The best way to survive an avalanche, of course, is to make sure the avalanche is far away from you. That’s not a joke:it’s the reason this New York Times piece
on surviving avalanches devotesso much space to explaining how to avoid avalanches. “Obey the closed and boundary signs, no matter how enticing it looks on the other side..Pockets of fresh snow that skiers and snowboarders can see just beyond a resort’s boundaries are particularly hazardous.”
If, for some reason, one cannot avoid an avalanche, the Times advises us to “yell so potential witnesses know that you’re being swept away. Let go
of your poles if possible, and use swimming motions to thrust your body
toward the top of the snow. When you stop, fight to keep one hand or
foot above the snow so rescuers can see it. Try to create an air pocket
in front of your face by punching into the snow. Stay calm to preserve
the air space and conserve energy.”
Read more on how to survive an avalanche from WikiHow.