La Niña Is Coming— Why Tree Well Safety is Essential This Season

Meteorologists and weather experts across North America agree— La Niña is coming .

Based on previous La Niña winters, the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies are expecting below-average temperatures and above-average snowfall. This is the perfect recipe for dreamy powder days and deep tree wells.

With the potential for more tree well and snow immersion suffocation (SIS) accidents due to deep snowfall, now is the opportune time to brush up on your safety tips and best practices.

Not sure what a tree well or SIS accident is? Fear not. The video below was created by BCA to educate skiers of all abilities.

As noted throughout the video, tree wells form when deep snow accumulates around a tree that typically has low-hanging branches. The branches prevent snow from settling evenly around the base of the tree, and a deep cavity can form.

Skiers and snowboarders can accidentally fall into these cavities, or wells, and can suffer serious injury or death.

Deepsnowsafety.org , a fantastic resource for education about tree wells and SIS, notes that evergreen trees (fir, hemlock, etc.) are the prime culprits for deep tree wells. This is due to their long, sturdy, and low-hanging branches that essentially shield the ground from snow. Evergreen trees can be found on nearly every mountain in North America, but they're particularly concentrated in the Pacific Northwest.

Ski areas such as Mt. Baker, WA; Whitefish, MT; and Mt. Bachelor, OR are known for impressive annual snowfall totals and large evergreen trees. The combination often results in deep tree wells. Multiple in-bounds skiers have died in recent years at these resorts, and others in the region, from tree well or SIS accidents.

Tree wells made international headlines during Winter '22/'23 thanks to a heroic video captured by a skier at Mt. Baker Ski Area, Washington.

Francis Zuber was wearing his GoPro to capture an epic powder run when he noticed a snowboard sticking out from the snow. He acted quickly, and dug snowboarder Ian Steger, who was buried head-first, out of the deep tree well.

The video went viral, and while you might have watched it before, it's worth viewing again to appreciate the severity of tree wells, and to brush up on your tree well/SIS rescue tips. See below.

Zuber's actions were celebrated as he most certainly saved Steger's life. Steger was fortunate that Zuber had selected the same line and saw his board sticking out of the snow, but Zuber's prior avalanche and SIS training was what really saved the day.

An uneducated skier's first thought might be to remove the fallen rider's skis or board, but Zuber acted correctly in going right for Steger's airway. Injuries such as broken bones and damaged ligaments can certainly occur when falling into a tree well, but the most important factor is establishing a clear airway for the fallen skier to breathe.

Most skiers who die in tree well accidents do so because they can't breathe. Skip ahead to the 2:48 mark of Zuber's video if you need further proof of how quickly snow can consolidate and completely block an airway.

Zuber notes in the description of the video that Steger was riding with friends and was carrying avalanche safety equipment. Despite these safety measures, accidents can occur. That's why it's important to brush up on your safety tips ahead of this season.

Deepsnowsafety.org has listed the following tips for tree wells and SIS accidents:

What To Do if You’re Caught in a Tree Well:

• Yell or use whistle to get your partners attention.
• Do whatever you can to keep your head above the surface of the snow including rolling, grabbing tree branches or the tree trunk. If possible, keep your feet below level of your head.
• If you become immersed, make a space around your face and protect your airway – resist the urge to struggle, it could compromise your airspace and entrap you further.
• Stay calm to conserve air.
• Trust your partner is on their way.
• If possible, use your cell phone to call ski patrol or the resort’s emergency number.

What To Do if Your Partner is Caught in a Tree Well:

TIP: In dense tree areas or in poor visibility, ski or ride short pitches and stop to regroup often – stay within sight of your partner!

1. Don’t leave to get help – Stay with your partner!
2. Call for additional resources. Use a whistle or yell for assistance. If possible, call ski patrol or the resort’s emergency phone number.
3. Evaluate scene safety for yourself.
4. IMMEDIATELY begin snow immersion rescue efforts.
   • Go directly for the airway, and keep it clear, be careful not to knock more snow into the hole. Clear any snow from the airway and continue necessary first aid or extrication effort.
5. Do not try to pull victim out the way they fell in. Instead, determine where the head is and tunnel in from the side.

• When tunneling directly for the airway be careful not to knock more snow into the hole.Continue expanding the tunnel to the airway until you can extricate the body. Efficient “strategic shoveling techniques” with multiple rescuers is very useful.

The winter of '24/'25 could be a big one for the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies. Make sure you're prepared, and stay safe out there, friends.

Related: NOAA’s Latest Update Looks Encouraging for PNW Skiers

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