The Human Factor

Recognizing the dangers of mental shortcuts

Avoid this situation and take a mental note of the human factor. PHOTO: Garrett Grove

Be sure to check out The Human Factor, a multimedia story about decision-making in avalanche terrain, that launched in November 2014. Author David Page investigated the psychological factors involved in backcountry skiing.


In Evidence of Heuristic Traps in Recreational Avalanche Accidents (2002), researcher and engineer Ian McCammon identified six different types of mental shortcuts that were present in a study of 600 different avalanche accidents in the United States. His findings indicated that people were more likely to take risks if they were operating under one or more of the following six shortcuts:

Familiarity: Unstable conditions exist regardless of whether the slope is in your own backyard or not. Being familiar with a certain area and thinking you know everything about a particular slope is common amongst many backcountry skiers. The reality is that you likely haven’t seen the area at its worst and you’ve gotten away with skiing it in the past. Areas adjacent to ski areas are notorious for luring in avalanche victims because familiar surroundings tend to make people feel safer.

Acceptance: In light of the prevalence of social media in our society and the pervasive nature of personal video equipment, being accepted by one’s peers has become extremely important. The thought of being the next YouTube sensation or POWDER magazine cover shot is exciting and it entices people to do things they wouldn’t otherwise do. Trying to impress the members of your group is dangerous and ego should be left at the trailhead. You get a lot more respect in the mountains by making calculated decisions.

Commitment: Being a skier is more of an identity now than it has been in the past. The thought of going pro or scoring some free gear because of your backcountry exploits is quite powerful. It is important to understand that your skier status revolves around being alive. Backing off from an objective because conditions are sketchy shows restraint and professionalism. Plans are great, but contingencies are better. Feeling your way through the mountains and paying attention to the Indian signs is a good way to avoid escalation of commitment and come home to ski another day.

Expert Halo: There are plenty of people in the backcountry these days that claim to be experts. Some are, but most only talk a big game. Recognizing the dynamic of your group is important. A default leader is usually someone who is the oldest, coolest, most skilled skier, etc. But these people don’t necessarily have the avalanche smarts to get a group through the mountains safety. Often their risk tolerance is different then their teammates. At any rate, the mountains don’t care if you are an expert or not, they will strike you down if you make a mistake.

Scarcity: Better equipment and more publicizing of the awesomeness that is skiing has led to a crowded backcountry. Urban areas in close proximity to big terrain further add to the problem. Everyone wants to get their face shot and a chance to experience the incredible feeling of the perfect turn. However, this has led to a competition for resources and more people pushing the limits of safe terrain.

Social Proof: Bruce Tremper, Director of the Utah Avalanche Center, calls this the “herding instinct.” It boils down to people relying on safety in numbers. But as Tremper points out, more people on slope means more triggers and more people caught. People in larger groups are also more apt to take greater risks (risky shift). Remember that instability exists whether you are one person or twenty.

  Last week’s backcountry tip: Beacon Breakdown