Backcountry
Avalanches aren’t the only thing you need to watch out for in the backcountry — or the resort for that matter. Professional skier and pilot Lexi Dupont demonstrates the danger of tree wells with CHM Heli Skiing, showing us how deep they can actually go.
A tree well, also known as a spruce trap, is defined as the space around a tree under its branches that does not get the same amount of snow as the surrounding open space. Because of this, they can form deep holes at their bases that can become life-threatening traps if a skier or snowboarder were to fall into one. Sadly, this happens more often than you think. This is why it is recommended to ride with partners when tree skiing, and to keep an eye on them at all times.
