An aerial view of snow-covered trees in a forest during winter.

TREE SAFETY TRAINING

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PROGRESSION GUIDELINES

A skier wearing a yellow jacket, yellow helmet, and goggles skiing through a snowy forest between trees.

Tree Safety Training

For new and experienced instructors who are teaching Levels 4-6.

These resources will help you understand how tree wells form, why deep‑snow immersion is so dangerous, and what steps you can take to stay safe. Building awareness and practicing good partner habits are the most important tools you have to prevent Snow Immersion Suffocation incidents. Let’s keep each other safe out there.

Elective Sessions to help you prep for this: ANY! Special mention to: Terrain, Tactics & Technique (Sundays), Bumps (Mondays), Intro to Steeps (Fridays).

Tree well safety refers to the knowledge and practices used to avoid falling into tree wells—the loose, deep, unconsolidated snow that forms around the base of evergreen trees such as fir, pine, and spruce.
In deep‑snow areas like Whistler Blackcomb, tree wells are one of the most dangerous non‑avalanche hazards for skiers and snowboarders.
A tree well forms when a tree’s lowest branches prevent snow from packing tightly around the trunk. The result is a hidden void filled with loose, unconsolidated snow.
When a skier or rider falls into this void—especially head‑first—they can become trapped and suffocate. This is known as Snow Immersion Suffocation (SIS).
- Deep, loose snow can collapse around a person, making self‑rescue extremely difficult.
- Low branches can trap equipment and limit movement.
- Most victims fall head‑first, making it hard to breathe or wiggle free.
- You can sink out of sight, even when skiing close to a groomed run.
- The hazard increases after storms when snow is soft, deep, and un‑compacted.
- Recent heavy snowfall
- Storm-day riding
- Skiing in dense glades or near large conifers
- Deep, unconsolidated powder
- Low visibility reducing awareness of hazards
Take a moment to watch the training videos, complete our short quiz, review the Safety Manual rules, and read through our Tree Well & Snow Immersion Safety content.
Click Here —> Tree Well and Snow Immersion Safety Content
Click Here —> Tree Well & Snow Immersion Safety Quiz