Avalanche Safety Reduces Backcountry Fatality Rate

Americans' backcountry use has surged over 25 years while annual U.S. avalanche deaths remain about 26; on Feb. 17 a Sierra Nevada avalanche near Castle Peak killed nine, including three guides. Forecasters and rescue teams say modern forecasting, snowpack modeling, remote-triggered controls, drones, and improved communications reduced per-person fatality rates but cannot eliminate risk.