Avalanche caught on a helmet cam

We don't have the worry of snow avalanches in the Northeast. We also, don't usually get the kind of accumulation of dry snow and high winds that western resorts contend with each winter. The only exception would be the Mt. Washington, NH area which claim a few lives each season due to avalanches.

Last ski season (2008-2009), more than 35% of all reported ski deaths in the US were caused by avalanches. Some of the skiers caught in avalanches were skiing out of bounds at ski resort but most accidents happened in the back country. One ski patroller lost his life "in bounds" at a western resort. Avalanches can sometimes be very unpredictable.

Many skiers in the Albany Region take winter vacations in the Rockies, Sierras and British Columbia. The siren call of powder skiing can be very hard to resist when you arrive at your favorite ski resort. Be forewarned: Know your limitations, use local knowledge and heed the avalanche warnings when you ski the powder fields.

Watch this video from start to finish. It is a sobering reminder that taking that first run may be your last.