What are tree wells?
The allure of deep, untracked powder is undeniable. Floating through silent forests, trees heavy with fresh snow, is a magical experience for skiers, snowboarders, and snowshoers alike. But beneath that serene beauty lurks a potentially lethal hazard that many winter adventurers overlook: tree wells.
Understanding tree wells – what they are, why they’re dangerous, and how to mitigate the risk – is absolutely critical for anyone venturing off-piste or into the backcountry. This guide will equip you with the knowledge to recognize the danger, take preventative measures, and know what to do in an emergency. Don’t let ignorance turn a dream powder day into a nightmare.
Recently, in the 22-23 season, a 65-year-old man from Kentucky fell into a tree well and died while skiing with his son in Steamboat, CO.
Due to these dangers, we’ll explore what tree wells are, how they form, and provide some tips for avoiding them and increasing your odds of survival.
How do tree wells form?
Imagine a deep layer of fresh snow covering the landscape. Around the base of many trees, particularly conifers (like firs, spruces, pines), the low-hanging branches or the dense canopy prevent snow from compacting directly against the trunk. This creates an area of unconsolidated, loose snow, or even a hidden void, right at the base of the tree. This void is the tree well.
- Snowfall: Heavy snowfall accumulates throughout the forest.
- Interception: The tree’s branches and needles catch a significant amount of snow, preventing it from reaching the ground directly beneath them and around the immediate trunk.
- Uncompacted Zone: While the snow away from the tree settles and compacts under its own weight and environmental factors, the snow near the trunk remains loose and deep because it’s sheltered.
- Hidden Void: This results in a hazardous depression, often hidden from view by the tree’s lower branches or a deceptive layer of surface snow, extending outwards from the trunk. The depth can vary significantly, from a couple of feet to potentially over ten feet, depending on the snowpack depth and tree size.
Think of it like an unstable snow cone packed loosely around the tree trunk, easily collapsible and dangerously deep.
Why Are Tree Wells So Dangerous?
The primary danger associated with tree wells is Snow Immersion Suffocation (SIS). It sounds technical, but the reality is terrifyingly simple: falling into a tree well can lead to suffocation, often quickly. Here’s why they pose such a significant threat:
- Entrapment: Falling in is surprisingly easy, especially if you ski or ride too close to a tree. Often, a skier or rider falls headfirst. The loose, unconsolidated snow offers no support, making it incredibly difficult, often impossible, to climb or struggle out of. Every movement can cause more loose snow to fall down from the sides, burying the victim further.
- Suffocation Risk (SIS): If a victim falls headfirst or becomes oriented with their head below the level of their body, the loose snow can quickly pack around their face and airway. Breathing becomes difficult, then impossible as snow fills the mouth and nose. The very act of breathing can draw more snow inward. Furthermore, the surrounding snow restricts chest expansion. Even if an air pocket is initially present, the buildup of carbon dioxide (CO2) can incapacitate the victim. SIS can occur very rapidly – sometimes in minutes.
- Hidden Hazard: Tree wells are often visually deceptive. They might look like flat snow or be obscured by low branches. A skier or rider might not realize the danger until they are already falling into one.
- Difficult Rescue: Extracting someone from a tree well is challenging and time-consuming, even for rescuers. The loose snow constantly sloughs back into the hole as digging occurs, and the victim’s position (often upside down or contorted) makes extraction physically demanding.
It’s crucial to understand that most tree well accidents occur in ungroomed terrain, both within ski resort boundaries (like gladed runs) and in the backcountry. They are not typically a hazard on groomed slopes.
Where Are You Most Likely to Encounter Tree Wells?
Knowledge of where tree wells form is your first line of defense. Be extra vigilant in these areas:
- Under Evergreen Trees: Conifers (firs, spruces, pines, hemlocks) with low-hanging branches are the primary culprits. Deciduous trees typically lose their leaves and don’t intercept snow in the same way.
- Deep Snow Conditions: The deeper the recent snowfall and the overall snowpack, the deeper and more dangerous the tree wells will be. Be especially cautious after major storms.
- Ungroomed Terrain: This includes gladed ski runs within resorts, sidecountry accessed from lifts, and true backcountry terrain. Groomed runs compact the snow, eliminating the tree well hazard.
- Steeper Slopes: While they can form on any slope, losing control on steeper terrain increases the likelihood of an uncontrolled slide towards a tree.
- Lower Elevations (Relatively): Sometimes, tree wells can be deeper at slightly lower elevations within a snowy zone where temperatures might fluctuate more, affecting snow settlement differently around trees.
Who is Most at Risk from Tree Wells?
While anyone in deep snow near trees can be at risk, certain groups or situations increase the danger:
- Powder Seekers: Skiers and snowboarders venturing off groomed runs in search of fresh powder are prime candidates.
- Tree Skiers/Riders: Those who specifically enjoy navigating through forested areas.
- Snowshoers: While typically moving slower, a stumble or post-hole near a tree can still lead to falling into a well.
- Children: Their smaller size and lower center of gravity can make them more susceptible to falling in, and they may lack the strength or knowledge for self-rescue.
- Solo Adventurers: This is perhaps the biggest risk factor. If you fall into a tree well alone, your chances of survival decrease dramatically due to the difficulty of self-extraction and the speed at which SIS can occur. Never ski or ride deep powder alone.
- Less Experienced Off-Piste Riders: Those unfamiliar with the specific hazards of ungroomed terrain may not recognize the danger signs or know avoidance techniques.
How to Avoid Tree Wells: Prevention is Everything!
Avoiding tree wells altogether is the best strategy. Safety isn’t about luck; it’s about awareness and deliberate action.
Ski or Ride with a Partner (The Golden Rule)
- Never Go Alone: This is the single most important piece of advice for deep snow and tree skiing/riding. Your partner is your lifeline if you fall into a tree well.
- Maintain Visual Contact: It’s not enough to just be out there with someone. Keep your partner insight! Agree on stopping points, leapfrog down sections of terrain, and constantly check on each other. If you lose sight of your partner, stop immediately and re-establish contact. Many accidents happen when partners become separated.
- Communication: Use radios or clear voice signals, especially in dense trees or challenging conditions.
Give Trees a WIDE Berth
- Don’t Ski/Ride Close: Consciously choose lines that keep you away from the base of trees. Remember, the well can extend outwards from the trunk. Aim for the open spaces between trees.
- Look Ahead: Scan your intended path and identify potential hazards well in advance. Don’t fixate on the tree you want to avoid; look where you want to go – into the open.
- Assume Every Tree Has a Well: Especially in deep snow conditions, treat every evergreen tree as a potential hazard.
Be Acutely Aware of Snow Conditions
- Deep Powder = High Risk: Recognize that after significant snowfall, the tree well hazard is elevated. Exercise extra caution.
- Check Reports: Pay attention to snow depth, recent snowfall amounts, and any specific warnings issued by ski patrol or avalanche forecasters.
Carry Appropriate Safety Gear (and Know How to Use It!)
- Beyond Avalanche Gear: While avalanche transceivers, probes, and shovels are essential in avalanche terrain (and the shovel/probe are crucial for tree well rescue), they won’t save you if you fall in alone.
- Whistle: Attach a whistle to your jacket zipper. It’s louder than shouting and takes less energy if you are trapped.
- Communication Device: For backcountry travel, carry a reliable communication device like a satellite messenger (InReach, SPOT) or satellite phone, in addition to fully charged cell phones (which may lack service).
- Avalanche Airbag Pack (Consideration): While primarily for avalanches, some anecdotal evidence suggests an airbag might potentially help keep a victim closer to the surface in some tree well scenarios, but this is NOT its primary function, and it shouldn’t be relied upon for tree well safety. Focus on avoidance and partner rescue.
Know Your Limits and Conditions
- Skill Level: Be honest about your ability to ski or ride challenging, deep snow in trees. If you’re struggling or frequently falling, the risk of ending up in a tree well increases. Stick to more manageable terrain.
- Fatigue: Accidents often happen when you’re tired. Recognize when fatigue is setting in and choose easier routes or call it a day.
What To Do If YOU Fall Into a Tree Well
Falling into a tree well is terrifying. Panic is a natural reaction, but fighting it is crucial for survival.
1. STAY CALM! (Easier Said Than Done)
- Panic wastes precious oxygen and energy. Consciously try to slow your breathing. Fight the instinct to thrash wildly, as this can worsen your situation by causing more snow to fall and potentially closing any air pocket.
2. Protect Your Airway / Create Air Space
- If falling, try instinctively to grab the tree trunk or branches to prevent going in headfirst.
- If you land headfirst or snow covers your face, use your hands/arms immediately to clear space around your mouth and nose. Cup your hands over your mouth if possible. This small air pocket can buy you valuable time.
- Try to prevent snow from entering your mouth.
3. Yell or Blow Your Whistle IMMEDIATELY
- Alert your partner(s) as soon as possible. Shout, blow your whistle – make noise. Do this before you exhaust yourself trying to get out.
4. Conserve Energy and Oxygen
- Limit unnecessary movement. Thrashing will tire you out quickly and deplete oxygen in any small air pocket. Move deliberately if you attempt self-rescue.
5. Attempt Self-Rescue (Carefully and Methodically)
- Assess Your Position: Are you headfirst or feet first? Can you touch the tree trunk?
- Rock Gently: Try slow, rocking movements to potentially compact the snow around you, creating space.
- Reach for the Trunk/Branches: If possible, try to grab onto the tree trunk or sturdy branches to help pull yourself up or stabilize yourself.
- Try to “Swim”/Roll: If possible, try to slowly roll or “swim” your body to get horizontal or ideally feet-down. This is extremely difficult due to the loose snow.
- Don’t Expect Easy Progress: Self-extraction is VERY difficult and often impossible. Your primary survival strategy relies on your partner finding and rescuing you quickly. Focus on protecting your airway and signaling.
What To Do If Your PARTNER Falls Into a Tree Well (Rescue Steps)
Seeing your partner disappear near a tree is alarming. Swift, calm, and strategic action is vital.
1. DO NOT LEAVE THEM!
- Resist any instinct to go for help immediately. Time is critical. Your trapped partner needs YOU, right now. Leaving them significantly decreases their chance of survival.
2. Keep Visual Contact & Assess the Scene
- Watch exactly where they went down. Mark the spot if necessary.
- Quickly assess for any immediate hazards to you (e.g., unstable snow nearby, risk of you falling into the same well).
3. Call for Help (If Possible WITHOUT Delaying Rescue)
- If you have cell service or a radio and can call Ski Patrol (if in-bounds) or emergency services while approaching the victim or beginning the rescue, do so. But do not delay starting the rescue process to make a call. Shouting for help from others nearby is also crucial.
4. Begin Strategic Digging IMMEDIATELY (Head/Airway First!)
- Your Shovel is Key: This is where having backcountry safety gear (even within resort boundaries when off-piste) is crucial. Access your shovel quickly. If you don’t have one, use hands, skis, snowboard, whatever you can – but a shovel is vastly more effective.
- Determine Head Location: Quickly try to ascertain where the victim’s head is. If unsure, probe gently around the entry point if you have a probe. Clearing the airway is the absolute priority.
- Dig Smart: Don’t just dig straight down. Start digging from the downhill side of the well, creating a platform to work from and moving snow away from the hole, not back into it. Clear snow rapidly from around the head and chest area first. Be careful not to dump more snow onto the victim’s face.
- Teamwork (If Others Are Present): If more rescuers are available, coordinate digging efforts. One person focuses on the airway, others clear snow further back.
5. Uncover Head and Chest
- As soon as the head and chest are uncovered, clear the victim’s mouth and nose of snow. Check for breathing.
6. Continue Extraction
- Once the airway is clear and breathing is confirmed (or CPR started if necessary and you are trained), continue carefully excavating snow from around the body to relieve pressure and allow for removal from the well. Be mindful of potential injuries.
7. Monitor the Victim & Treat for Hypothermia/Shock
- Even after extraction, the victim will likely be cold, possibly in shock, or have other injuries. Keep them warm, monitor their condition, and seek professional medical help as soon as possible.
Remember: Tree well rescue is a race against time. Efficiency and focus on the airway are paramount.
Understanding SIS: A Deeper Dive
Snow Immersion Suffocation (SIS) isn’t drowning, but it’s similarly lethal. When loose snow surrounds the head:
- Airway Obstruction: Snow physically blocks the nose and mouth.
- Inability to Breathe: Even if a small air pocket exists initially, the pressure of surrounding snow can restrict chest movement needed for inhalation.
- CO2 Buildup: Re-breathing exhaled air in a confined space rapidly increases carbon dioxide levels, leading to drowsiness, unconsciousness, and eventually respiratory arrest.
- Oxygen Depletion: The available oxygen in the trapped air pocket is consumed.
The combination makes SIS incredibly dangerous and rapid. Victims often have only minutes of survival time unless rescued promptly.
[VIDEO] Witness a Heart-Stopping Sidecountry Rescue Caught on GoPro
Francis Zuber’s day trip to Mt. Baker turned into a dramatic rescue when he happened upon a fellow skier, Ian Steger, buried in a tree well. Zuber, an experienced skier with avalanche safety training, immediately jumped into action to save Steger.
The rescue was made possible not only by Zuber’s quick thinking and physical abilities but also by the fact that both skiers were well-prepared with proper safety gear and had the necessary knowledge to navigate the backcountry.
Zuber’s decision to share the video of the rescue on social media has helped raise awareness about the dangers of tree wells and the importance of proper mountain safety training.
These wells are a hidden danger for skiers, snowboarders, and anyone exploring the mountains in the winter. By staying on marked trails, skiing with a partner, and keeping a safe distance from trees, you can reduce your risk of falling into one.
If you do fall into a tree well, it’s important to stay calm, create an air pocket, and signal for help. By following these tips, you can help increase your odds of survival and enjoy a safe and fun day on the slopes.
For more information and safety tips, you may want to check with local ski resorts or organizations like the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA).
