Page 14 - SVHS Ops Plan 2017_18

“Remote Areas” are skiing circuits which do not exit to a highway or road that allows reasonable snowmobile or vehicle access from the Wood River Valley, Salmon River Valley, or Camas Prairie. Five caches of winter survival gear are strategically located at the four most commonly used “remote” circuits. The caches (55 gallon plastic barrels) are placed at the beginning of the season and removed at the end of the season. Locations include:
1. Big Smoky Creek and North Fork Big Smoky Creek (43°41’04” N / 114°46’49” W).
2. West Fork Big Smoky Creek and Helen Creek (43°45’41” N / 114°48’03” W).
3. Paradise Creek (43°42’02” N / 114°49’02” W). Cache also includes a Cascade folding
toboggan, leg splint, and first aid kit.
4. Snowslide Creek (Red Fox PZ 43°43’57” N/114o47’52” W).
5. Skillern Creek (Bowl Rider PZ 43°41'38" N/ 114°49'43" W).
The Smoky Mountain Lodge at the confluence of Skunk Creek with the South Fork of the Boise River (coordinates: 43°38’08” N /114° 54’30” W) may also be accessed from some skiing circuits.
When skiing in remote areas that do not access a cache (West and East Forks of Big Peak Creek, Pasture Creek, Dry Canyon, Fisher Canyon, Snowslide/Porcupine Creek), guides carry a “remote kit” to include camp stove or small cooking pot to melt water.
Missing Person
With the complex topography above timberline and tree skiing opportunities, there is the possibility of a client becoming disoriented and separating from the group. As standard procedure, guides discuss regroup points with the clients ahead of time and continually orient the clients to their location in regard to drainages, landmarks and pick up locations, reducing the chance of having a lost skier. If a skier becomes separated and/or missing guides should initiate Level 1 Emergency response.
Avalanche Rescue Preparation
Many measures are taken to ensure a speedy efficient rescue effort in the event of an avalanche accident:
1. All clients and guides wear avalanche beacons.
2. All clients receive an avalanche rescue briefing.
3. All clients read and sign the SVHS Safety Briefing.
4. All guides carry rescue gear.
5. The helicopter carries rescue gear.
6. All guides are trained in avalanche rescue.
7. Additional resources are readily available.
8. Clients are required to ski with avalanche flotation backpack with shovel and avalanche probe.
9. All guides assign a guest “tail guide” who carries a SVHS radio and laminated avalanche rescue plan in their avalanche flotation backpack. This “tail guide” is typically the last skier/boarder in the group.
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P.O Box 978 Sun Valley, ID 83353
Phone: 208.622.3108 E: info@sunvalleyheliski.com W: sunvalleyheliski.com