#snow-immersion-suffocation

#snow-immersion-suffocation

Tree well and deep snow suffocation is a serious problem in the Western USA and Canada. Incidents occur with deep snow accumulations and tree well immersions, where a skier or snowboarder falls into an area of deep, unconsolidated snow and becomes immobilized. Since 2001, California has had more snow immersion deaths than any other state. A tree well is a void or depression that forms around the base of a tree and most likely under the branches that hang from those trees, disguising the void.