General Knowledge
Survive an Avalanche Quiz
Buried under tons of snow — would you know what to do to survive?
Buried under tons of snow — would you know what to do to survive?
About 93% of avalanche victims can be rescued alive if found within 15 minutes, but survival drops to 30% after 35 minutes. This 50-question quiz covers everything from the science of slab avalanches and the deadly terrain angles that trigger them, to the right equipment — beacons, probes, airbag packs, and AvaLungs — and the survival techniques that can mean the difference between life and death. Whether you're a backcountry skier, a mountaineer, or just fascinated by extreme survival scenarios, this quiz will put your snow-safety knowledge to the test.
Avalanches kill approximately 150 people worldwide every year. The vast majority of victims are buried by slab avalanches on slopes between 30 and 45 degrees — the same angles favoured by backcountry skiers and snowboarders. Understanding how avalanches work, how to read terrain, and what to do when things go wrong is genuinely life-saving knowledge.
Each round presents 10 randomized multiple-choice questions drawn from a pool of 50, so every playthrough is different. You get instant feedback with explanations after each answer, plus a shareable score at the end.
You'll cover avalanche science including slab formation and the avalanche triangle, survival statistics, essential rescue equipment like beacons and probes, the correct swimming and air-pocket techniques, and why companions — not rescue services — save the most lives.
Try to discard poles and skis and swim or roll toward the edge of the slide. As the snow slows, cover your face and create an air pocket by cupping your hands. Just before the snow sets, take a deep breath to expand your chest. Once buried, stay calm to conserve oxygen, spit to find which way is down, then dig upward.
Survival falls sharply with time — around 93% alive within 15 minutes, dropping to 30% after 35 minutes and below 10% after 2 hours. Creating an air pocket and staying calm to conserve oxygen are the two most critical actions after burial.
The three essentials are a transceiver (beacon) worn under clothing on 457 kHz, a collapsible probe, and a shovel. Optional but highly effective additions include an airbag backpack and an AvaLung breathing device that draws air from the snowpack while venting exhaled CO2 away from the face.
Last updated: March 2026