SKADI Motorized Mountain Survival

The SKADI Foundation’s mission is to increase motorized user safety in the mountains by providing leadership, development and communication of mountain survival and safety practices, products, and services.


The SKADI Foundation is a non-profit foundation composed of experienced volunteers dedicated to making mountain adventures safe and enjoyable for everyone. Too many people have not returned home to their loved ones doing something they love and the people of SKADI Foundation strive to reduce and prevent future losses.



In the past seven years SKADI Foundation volunteers have invested their time and money in field research for the development of snow pits to test snowmobile impacts, presenting research to the Canadian Avalanche Associations AGM and conducting outreach talks in local communities. These volunteers are ready to expand their efforts and have developed several projects that that will provide focused practices specific to motorized users.





CURRENT SKADI FOUNDATION PROJECTS

Ambassador Program
Objective
Our goal is to work with top athletes to produce educational, high quality videos that will be released regularly throughout the riding season.
Action Plan
This coming winter we will be working with Brodie Evans to produce two video edits a month. Brodie has his Level One Avalanche Operations and will cover topics ranging from his approach to current riding conditions, to critical thinking in avalanche to terrain management.

Transceiver Checker
Objectives
1-Calculate user days in high use areas
2-Provide motorized users with a Safety Equipment Inspection Guide
3-Establish effective places to post important backcountry safety messages
Action Plan
Work with motorized user clubs, the existing programs to establish transceiver check point signs in high use areas around the Province.

Scanke Pit 2.0
Objective
Determine how motorized users impact the snowpack
Action Plan
1-Snowmobile Pressure Bulb study
2-Develop standardized Slope Stability Testing procedures
3-Pilot Project Spring 2016 and Major Project Winter 2016-2017

Research Projects
Objective
Write motorized user analysis papers for the 2017 International Snow Science Workshop (ISSW)
Action Plan
Research motorized user fatality rates in each terrain classification, as well as, user days to fatality ratios in managed motorized user areas of the Province


Motorized User Backcountry Practices
Objective
Increase backcountry user knowledge with the “Know Before You Go” campaign

Action Plan
1-Develop a proficient platform that provides product and service recommendations to course facilitators and motorized users including: riding with appropriate gear, track observation and track compaction, avalanche terrain hand signals, avalanche terrain travelling habits, using snowmobiles in conjunction with avalanche rescue techniques, slope testing techniques, backcountry etiquette, safety around helicopters, communicating with Search and Rescue.

2-Utilize existing avalanche organizations to refine the message and aid in reaching out to the motorized community.



The goals of our GoFundMe campaign are to secure financial support for current and future SKADI Foundation projects, reach out to a knowledge base and to spread our message. We appreciate your support, donations and shares! Together we can save lives and have fun in a safe way while enjoying incredible mountain adventures!

For more info go to www.skadifoundation.com