If you witness an avalanche:

• Watch the victim as they are carried down the slope. If they disappear under the moving snow, note the LAST SEEN POINT and keep your eyes fixed on that snow until it stops.

• Formulate a plan that includes designating a leader and discussing an escape route in case of a subsequent slide.

• Make sure everyone turns their beacons to search/recieve mode.  Depending on the number of people, not everyone should conduct a beacon search.  Others can start spot probing and getting out their shovels. 

• Listen and look thoroughly for clues during the beacon search.  Many people are buried with a hand or a foot sticking out of the snow.

• Be aware of the size of the avalanche path relative to the range of the searchers' beacons, and compensate accordingly.

• Have a probe pole and shovel ready.
  

Read our Perform a Beacon Search, Conduct a Rescue, and Probing and Digging sections for what to do if your partner is buried in an avalanche.

Next Section: Share Your Observations