For most of us, the thought of getting trapped in an avalanche is the kind of nightmare fuel that only rivals getting stuck in a tornado or trapped in quicksand. And going by actual footage that demonstrates how quickly an avalanche can overwhelm you, it's clear that the hype, so to speak, is indeed real.
This video comes from the Karakoram Geographic Instagram account—a tourist resource that provides information of expeditions and trekking for the Karakoram mountain range, which is part of the greater Himalayans and home to Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth. Though the clip was posted a couple weeks back, it's since gone viral for reasons that are abundantly clear.
"No matter how far you are? Run Run Run!" read a caption on the post, which shows an avalanche come crashing down a mountain at a terrifying rate of speed, rushing the person filming the video within a matter of seconds. "Oh god. Oh dear god," he says, just moments before the wall of snow and ice descends upon him.
Though, as many pointed out in the comments of the post, running is actually the last thing you should do in this situation. Not running is also undoubtedly what saved the camera man's life, who ostensibly made it out alive to share the footage.
"If this hits you while you're running, your chances of survival are less than If you huddle behind a large rock and shelter in place," wrote one commenter. "Try to send your coordinates before the snow hits and cover your face with your arms to create a small air pocket to breathe in case you get buried."
"LITERALLY the a [sic] ONLY reason he's alive (and his tour group) is because they DIDN'T run," added another commenter, providing similar avalanche survival advice. "They had ZERO chance of outrunning it. Avalanches can exceed speeds 300km/h and have cubbies of snow and ice the size of houses. Find a rock or something that you hope won't move, try to brace yourself behind it, put your arms around your face like you're coughing into your elbow, this way when the snow stops moving, you can potentially create a tiny pocket of air by moving your arms and elbows slightly."
"This is pretty much a Hail Mary but it's all you have," they added.
Of course, there's also a healthy argument for staying on flat ground and avoiding the mountains altogether, as at least 17 people were confirmed dead or reported missing during the 2023 Mount Everest climbing season. But if you must, go armed with avalanche survival knowledge. Because when it hits, it's already too late.
Related: Why Avalanche Safety Education Is More Important Than Ever
from Men's Journal https://ift.tt/QTEciNo
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