Successful self extractions from treewells

Has anyone thought about trying to practice self-extraction? Is there any interest in getting folks together and trying out various scenarios, or would it just be too dangerous?

My guess is the danger in practicing could be circumvented for the most part through the use of a good breathing tube or an avalung.<br>

I'm thinking of trying to devise a ripcord of some sort that runs up through my pants. It would have to be unobtrusive and easily affixed, but I think it could work for most cable tele bindings.

<br><br>i like the thought here but i'm not sure this would work. the pressure you could apply while in a hanging position would be towards your head by pulling a cord, whereas you would need a cord that pulled a heel throw down (or up in this case if you're inverted). you would need to develop some type of counter pull...i certainly can't picture it.

Has anyone thought about trying to practice self-extraction? Is there any interest in getting folks together and trying out various scenarios, or would it just be too dangerous?

<br><br>If folks decide to do that, post here and I'll bring the video camera! <br><br>I'm having a hard time seeing how I can turn this into a snowboarder vs. skier thread, so the only other thing I can add is that when I ski alone (or with Silas, which is almost like skiing alone) I try to give tree wells a wide berth for just the concerns Wolfs cites, though I know that's not a foolproof approach. On Saturday three of us "buddied up" and though it made for a less "flowing" ski down to frequently check on each other, it certainly gave a bit more security. Though it still could take 5 minutes to decide it's time to head back uphill, and another 10 to find your poor buddy if he was just behind you.

How about unbuckling your boots? Would that work? If you were really lucky, you might pop your liners out, but more likely, you'd end up in your socks. Cold feet, but at least you'd be free.<br><br>When I was paragliding regularly, I helped our club organize tree self-rescue clinics.<br><br>We also practiced how to get back into your harness if you forgot to buckle your leg loops and found yourself hanging from your armpits. <br><br>Reserve parachute deployment clinics are an annual ritual for paraglider and hangglider pilots.<br><br>Practicing stuff like this can save lives.

Has anyone thought about trying to practice self-extraction? Is there any interest in getting folks together and trying out various scenarios, or would it just be too dangerous?

<br><br>In paragliding, we used simulators.<br><br>For reserve deployment, we'd hang ropes from rafters and clip the harness to them as though they were canopy risers.<br><br>For tree self-rescue, we went to REI and used their climbing wall. Students practiced self-rescue on belay.<br><br>Although it's a very serious problem, I'm imagining a "tree well simulator" that would be pretty funny. Imagine Luke Skywalker and Han Solo being taken to dinner by the Ewoks. That would be a pretty entertaining clinic...   <br><br>Edited to add:<br><br>Maybe you avalanche instructors out there could add this to your syllabus, right after beacon search. Seriously!

i always figured there would be a slim chance of getting an avalung tube into your mouth in a serious slide, but an avalung for treewell purposes might not be a bad idea.