tree well
Pit around trunk
A tree well is the void that forms around a tree trunk in deep snow.
The branches above deflect snowfall, creating a hidden pocket of loose, unconsolidated snow near the base.
Tree wells are a serious hazard for skiers and snowboarders; falling into one headfirst can cause suffocation, a danger called snow immersion suffocation or tree well entrapment.
- hazardSource of potential harm
- hidden dangerConcealed risk or peril
- spruceNeat; also a conifer
- forestTree-dense ecosystem
- ski resortSnow-sport vacation facility
snow · avalanche · entrapment · buried alive · ski patrol · pine · death trap · winter · winter survival · hole · powder snow · deep snow · powder day · hypothermia · snow drift · suffocation · air pocket · stumphole
snow surface stability
tree wellsolid ground
Stable surface beneath
packed snow · hardpack · groomed trail · frozen ground · ice crust