How to Survive an Avalanche

How to stay alive if you're trapped in an avalanche. I go skiing to understand the physics of these deadly forces of nature and test out some of the incredible engineering technology being used to keep people safe.
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This video was brought to you by an unhealthy amount of coffee and our awesome Patrons at / atomicfrontier .
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Hi, I'm James. I explore the world looking for interesting engineering stories which explore complex issues in interesting ways. I hold a First-Class Honors in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Western Australia and am currently studying a Masters of Space Systems Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
My website is www.atomicfrontieronline.com, I occasionally tweet from / atomicfrontiers , and you can join the Atomic Frontier Discord server to talk about cool engineering stuff at / discord . You can help support my work and see some cool behind-the-scenes content at / atomicfrontier .

Пікірлер: 314

  • @AtomicFrontier
    @AtomicFrontier2 жыл бұрын

    While ski patrol and some backcountry instructors had a look at the script for accuracy, this is your friendly reminder to not take life-critical safety advise (entirely) from a KZread video. All remaining errors are my own.

  • @qreeves

    @qreeves

    2 жыл бұрын

    Error correction: s/advise/advice/ 👍 Very cool video though, didn't know avalanches were that interesting.

  • @travisnrousseau

    @travisnrousseau

    2 жыл бұрын

    It’s a very simple explanation of avalanches, it truly is a science though! There is so much more too it! Thanks for creating and sharing this!

  • @AkiSan0

    @AkiSan0

    2 жыл бұрын

    new thumbnail and title are MUCH better!

  • @JoeKyser

    @JoeKyser

    2 жыл бұрын

    This reminded me of my ski patrol days. I think you did a good job

  • @Rownoscc

    @Rownoscc

    2 жыл бұрын

    Bro I honestly dont know why your so underrated like i saw you on my recommended and thought you had 1mil subs, i wish you had 1mil subs #roadto200k

  • @jeralwood6290
    @jeralwood62902 жыл бұрын

    Becomes buried under snow and risks his life, yeah I should record this. all jokes aside great video!!

  • @AtomicFrontier

    @AtomicFrontier

    2 жыл бұрын

    There was definitly a moment there when I got properly scared. I'd forgotten how claustrophobic I can be when tired.

  • @hkr667

    @hkr667

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@AtomicFrontier catastrophic or claustrophobic? o.0

  • @Ptitnain2

    @Ptitnain2

    2 жыл бұрын

    It must help with the anxiety.

  • @mesiroy1234

    @mesiroy1234

    Жыл бұрын

    I got anxiety just thinking's

  • @natalie5947
    @natalie59472 жыл бұрын

    The baking demonstration was really eye-opening on why avalanches are so deadly, because they go from no movement to a massive amount of snow just by carrying the stuff above them.

  • @MonkeyJedi99

    @MonkeyJedi99

    2 жыл бұрын

    Yeah, that shocked me with how sudden and miniature-violent it was, and how well it matched to footage of real slab avalanches.

  • @Antibomber47
    @Antibomber472 жыл бұрын

    I love how in the beginning he says "If I can't get out of here in the next 10 minutes" that he'll be in trouble, and then the video is only 9:30 lol. Love the video, keep up the good work!

  • @hermanrobak1285

    @hermanrobak1285

    Жыл бұрын

    After seeing that intro, followed by a long take of him skiing downhill while delivering a long, dense monologue, my expectations were sky high. I kind of sort of expected the take to go on, and on, with an avalanche catching up with him, and burying him, while he kept drily narrating. But I guess it would just require too many takes to nail that one... Edit: I would not be surprised if he had written (and rehearsed!) a script for the unlikely event of an avalanche occurring at just the "right" time to do the whole video in one take.

  • @m1ddo421
    @m1ddo4212 жыл бұрын

    I’m amazed at how clean sounding the audio always is, even when he’s skiing! That’s some really impressive audio processing and makes the video even more professional

  • @hullinstruments
    @hullinstruments2 жыл бұрын

    This is my favorite new channel discovered in the last year. I absolutely love your style and presenting.

  • @Fadlinification

    @Fadlinification

    2 жыл бұрын

    I believe he can be the next Sir David Attenborough

  • @hullinstruments

    @hullinstruments

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Fadlinification seriously if he’s doing stuff like this at such a young age and has been for years, he’s got tons of potential, a great screened presence, and honestly the mind for it!

  • @SmegEdmoOn
    @SmegEdmoOn2 жыл бұрын

    A lesser youtuber would have had a shot of downhill skiing with a voiceover. James Dingley, the mad lad that he is, decides to keep narrating the whole way through. AND THEN DOES IT AGAIN, JUST FOR FUN

  • @nitehawk86

    @nitehawk86

    2 жыл бұрын

    The audio quality during skiing was really fantastic.

  • @Dendroapsis

    @Dendroapsis

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@nitehawk86 Yeh, I have no idea how he did that! Even with a wind break my mic sounds like it's in a gale even in a light breeze. I wonder if he did actually do an initial recording then do a voiceover? I'd be curious to know

  • @gregorwachter6804

    @gregorwachter6804

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Dendroapsis î think so, the sound quality is way too good

  • @whyreally685

    @whyreally685

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Dendroapsis kzread.info/dash/bejne/eJdlso96dcSroJs.html

  • @defeatSpace

    @defeatSpace

    2 жыл бұрын

    Giga pop-filter and postproduction noise reduction software

  • @cxob2134
    @cxob21342 жыл бұрын

    Always amazed how this still somewhat small channel has better production value than big budged TV Documentary.

  • @AtomicFrontier

    @AtomicFrontier

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks! The secret ingredient is coffee and all-nighters :D

  • @sravan9931

    @sravan9931

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@AtomicFrontier xD

  • @surfaey5697
    @surfaey56972 жыл бұрын

    Keeping a professional, calm, and informative tone of voice, while skiing down a mountain. Is something I've never seen before.

  • @mickmccasker6401
    @mickmccasker64012 жыл бұрын

    Now you're just showing off! As if the video you did walking around Freo in one take walking backwards and up stairs wasn't enough, now you're skiing mid-script and getting buried alive!? Great video as usual, love your work!

  • @sirBrouwer

    @sirBrouwer

    2 жыл бұрын

    In a way his camera guy/girl is showing off even more. In order to know if the shot is correct they had to be able to ski backwards and do so really well.

  • @superslimanoniem4712

    @superslimanoniem4712

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@sirBrouwer that ski shot was probably done with a 360 camera

  • @sirBrouwer

    @sirBrouwer

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@superslimanoniem4712 in a reaction below mr frontier him self got in to the technical part of the video.

  • @sduoqsoq7478

    @sduoqsoq7478

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@sirBrouwer skiing switch isnt hard

  • @sirBrouwer

    @sirBrouwer

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@sduoqsoq7478 but doing so while looking in a camera viewer to make sure that the focus keeps correct .resulting in blind skiing backwards for a relatively long shot. that is quite a challenge

  • @lewismassie
    @lewismassie2 жыл бұрын

    If I had a nickel for every time I've seen someone explain the layers of snow in an avalanche using food products, I'd have two nickels. Must just be a very good medium to explain it

  • @__lifeline__
    @__lifeline__2 жыл бұрын

    5:18 was not expecting a cinema sins reference

  • @adgalaxy234_6

    @adgalaxy234_6

    2 жыл бұрын

    lol

  • @MarcusWolfWanders
    @MarcusWolfWanders2 жыл бұрын

    I knew the basics when it came to avalanches, but this video really brought me up to speed. "sintering", as well as the fact that you're very much unable to move after being buried by an avalanche, are both new to me.

  • @chrisc.73
    @chrisc.732 жыл бұрын

    This was a really interesting, informational, and high quality video. You made me ugly laugh when I thought about 'Prometheus school of running away from things' and you said it a second after. I could really appreciate the effort put into it too. Great video!

  • @A_killa
    @A_killa2 жыл бұрын

    you make some of the most high quality videos ive seen on the platform and are insanely underateted i give it a year until you blow up into the millions

  • @fkiesel9442
    @fkiesel94422 жыл бұрын

    Very good explanation! Of course, there is much more to the topic, but that would be way too much to cover in such a video. As an electrical engineer, I find it quite fascinating, how far avalanche beacons have come and how much better each generation gets. You still have to practice a lot to really master them, but if I compare a 10 year old one with a current one, the difference in how fast and how reliable I can find the transmitter is often significant.

  • @awgmax
    @awgmax2 жыл бұрын

    Prometheus school of running away from things made me chuckle. Great reference.

  • @chessie2003
    @chessie20032 жыл бұрын

    This is seriously incredible work! I loved the way you explained the layers with simple household ingredients.

  • @herebejamz
    @herebejamz2 жыл бұрын

    I'm impressed by the physicality. Its actually really difficult to deliver informative lines while doing anything physical. The first part with him skiing has amazing delivery.

  • @isaacsilbert8976
    @isaacsilbert89762 жыл бұрын

    Weetbix, truly the greatest treasure! Great work James, love your work!

  • @Blue-gp3vn
    @Blue-gp3vn2 жыл бұрын

    Ah, the wonderful teachings of the Prometheus School of Running Away From Things. Appreciate the reference!

  • @gergogaal568
    @gergogaal5682 жыл бұрын

    1 minute into the video and i learned so much i have to take a break

  • @Dave_Sisson
    @Dave_Sisson2 жыл бұрын

    I guide ascents of big mountains in Australia, nothing hard core, we just use crampons and ice axes on semi-steep slopes, but not steep enough to use ropes. We brief people on avi danger and often dig a pit, but issuing people with beacons, inflatable packs and the other gear you demonstrate would make the trips prohibively expensive. For the same reason very few skiers who do back country steeps use all that equipment either. But avi deaths are fortunately rather rare in Australia, they only occur every few years.

  • @AtomicFrontier

    @AtomicFrontier

    2 жыл бұрын

    Nice to hear from a fellow Aussie! Wow, that's really interesting - thanks for sharing. Fortunately I was able to rent all the stuff pretty cheaply, but I did look at what it would have cost to buy and was shocked. Best of luck with the upcoming season!

  • @Dave_Sisson

    @Dave_Sisson

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@AtomicFrontier Not sure if we will restart the trips post Covid. But if we do and you're in Melbourne during winter, you can have a free overnight ascent of Mt Feathertop or a day trip up the West Ridge of Mt Buller, including use of crampons, ice axe and tent if you do the Feathertop trip.

  • @degox99
    @degox992 жыл бұрын

    Astounding level of quality and production, i wish i could help with the patreon

  • @ozy667
    @ozy6672 жыл бұрын

    Starts the video with "if i dont get out of here i will fucking die" while smiling. What an OG

  • @oscodains
    @oscodains2 жыл бұрын

    Good video. Kinda disappointed this was not used as an excuse to fire an avalanche howitzer.

  • @zaraloves8420
    @zaraloves84202 жыл бұрын

    Wait how did he film himself skiing while doing the narration at the start? The camerawork is so smooth

  • @dcr645

    @dcr645

    2 жыл бұрын

    selfie stick + 360° camera or a drone is what im assuming

  • @anonymousaccordionist3326

    @anonymousaccordionist3326

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@dcr645 You can see the shadow of the 360 camera on a pole in his right hand.

  • @YounesLayachi

    @YounesLayachi

    2 жыл бұрын

    During the second skiing sequence we can also see active trailing of the cameraman

  • @YounesLayachi

    @YounesLayachi

    2 жыл бұрын

    Namely at 5:28

  • @rubeanie
    @rubeanie2 жыл бұрын

    The production quality is out of this world :0 10/10

  • @juliabriden620
    @juliabriden6202 жыл бұрын

    I like the painting! Did you know the endurance wreck was found very recently?

  • @jameshorn3707

    @jameshorn3707

    2 жыл бұрын

    it really is a nice painting... I wonder who painted it 🤔🤔 or if that artist will paint me a bug next 🤔🤔🤔

  • @juliabriden620

    @juliabriden620

    2 жыл бұрын

    Send the unnamed artist a nice high res bug pic

  • @macstrong1284

    @macstrong1284

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@juliabriden620 what’s the reference

  • @AphidKirby
    @AphidKirby2 жыл бұрын

    That was so incredible! Easily the best possible way I could've learned how avalanches work!

  • @Artrysa
    @Artrysa2 жыл бұрын

    Buried under snow unable to breath or even move my fingers. That is absolutely terrifying.

  • @EeroafHeurlin
    @EeroafHeurlin2 жыл бұрын

    Oh wow, the production quality just keeps going up

  • @laurispeterisvejs4007
    @laurispeterisvejs40072 жыл бұрын

    Heyy, finally good adio quality and ppretty impressive video quality as well. Keep the good content going, you are on your way to be the next Tom Scot.

  • @Deckzwabber
    @Deckzwabber2 жыл бұрын

    I have actually been buried in a training on avalanche safety. Although I was definitely cheating. After digging the snow profile trench, we cut a kind of cave into the side and I crawled inside of that. But it was a good exercise for the team in finding a beacon under two metres of snow and using the probes.

  • @AtomicFrontier

    @AtomicFrontier

    2 жыл бұрын

    Wow! Coincidentally that's exactly how I shot the opening / closing scenes! It's scary in there isnt it

  • @phantom4E2
    @phantom4E22 жыл бұрын

    good thing i always have a military folding shovel with me when i go skiing

  • @terrenceterringtonvii5176
    @terrenceterringtonvii51762 жыл бұрын

    Never seen your channel before. 1:30 seconds in I’ve subbed just because of your delivery, cinematography, and editing skills. Keep up the great work.

  • @DanNoakes
    @DanNoakes2 жыл бұрын

    You have a gift. This is WAY better than any certified avalanche expert that everyone in the backcountry ski community tries to learn from but fails. You are better, you explain it for the everyday folk. I am so glad you made this. Excellent job.

  • @itsCh4rl1e
    @itsCh4rl1e2 жыл бұрын

    Properly flexing with the title animations now, the 3D text work is class

  • @MaxDuckwitz
    @MaxDuckwitz2 жыл бұрын

    Great video, especially enjoyed the narration while you were skiing. I love your style of videos, explaining things very visually and hands-on, keep up the great work!

  • @bradley9856
    @bradley98562 жыл бұрын

    This is James Dingley, today I will be trapping my self in a nuclear power plant about to go super critical...

  • @PkPvre
    @PkPvre2 жыл бұрын

    The quality of your videos is insane.

  • @DUDA-__-
    @DUDA-__-2 жыл бұрын

    Here in southern germany there is another thing to do while getting ripped along by an avalanche thaught. We say just swim. The idea is that while the avalanche is still moving you can still get yourself into a better position, or even to the surface. I can not say how good this actually works. I haven't done it yet. Neither do I plan to do so.

  • @ElijahWoodMusic
    @ElijahWoodMusic2 жыл бұрын

    Really love your channel and love to see how it’s improving with each iteration! Subscribed and can’t wait to be notified again.

  • @hi_im_eoin
    @hi_im_eoin2 жыл бұрын

    Those skiing camera shots are absolutely amazing

  • @fredriddles1763
    @fredriddles17632 жыл бұрын

    The production quality of this video exceeded all of my expectations. Great job!

  • @KodiakDunne
    @KodiakDunne2 жыл бұрын

    You and Tom Scott should do a collaboration idk what but you two together would be great maybe on Tom's second channel you could both do something

  • @NullHyp
    @NullHyp2 жыл бұрын

    You’re production quality is top tier 🙌

  • @dublindom3720
    @dublindom37202 жыл бұрын

    Possibly ten minutes to live, records video, that is dedication to character

  • @Dendroapsis
    @Dendroapsis2 жыл бұрын

    Excellent production quality!

  • @Badger3
    @Badger32 жыл бұрын

    Another top tier video! It’s always a delight to see you in the sub feed, not least because of such a cool topic!

  • @mnm1273
    @mnm12732 жыл бұрын

    This is the first time I've learnt so much about something I just took for granted in quite a while. I'd never wondered why avalanches happen, how snow structures vary (or even that they do) and how brutal being stuck in an avalanche would be (I'd assumed digging g out would be tough do to deoth and disorientation not realized it was like ice).

  • @dominikseljan3043
    @dominikseljan30432 жыл бұрын

    Awesome job with demonstrations using food and those cool simulations!

  • @JackAllpikeMusic
    @JackAllpikeMusic2 жыл бұрын

    Another incredible video :)

  • @WaechterDerNacht
    @WaechterDerNacht2 жыл бұрын

    Great video, well explained! Really like the model you made. One thing to mention is, that it's better to not go into dangerous areas with bad conditions. Do an avalanche course first to learn for what to look out to etc.

  • @ProtoX37
    @ProtoX372 жыл бұрын

    I'm trying to figure out how you did the downhill narration. Amazing video!

  • @stephenmacartney
    @stephenmacartney2 жыл бұрын

    Great video! Enjoyed the Cinemasins reference there.

  • @zacherynuk842
    @zacherynuk8422 жыл бұрын

    No Recco ? Good vid and abvisoult new to skiing! Stay tidy! But Recco saves lives.

  • @its_matt_long
    @its_matt_long2 жыл бұрын

    A box of Wheet-Bix - a true treasure 🤣

  • @chadr2604
    @chadr26048 ай бұрын

    We had a geology text book it always compared landslides and avalanches to snowboarding. The first chapter said "Cold rock is quite strong as you know if you ever wiped out and hit your head on a stone." You could tell 2 different people wrote the book one worked for an oil company the other one was real big into snowboarding

  • @Jacques_JvR
    @Jacques_JvR2 жыл бұрын

    You always go up and over when it comes to quality, thats why this channel is good

  • @leop709
    @leop7092 жыл бұрын

    Just amazing videos, so glad I found your channel when you did a guest video for Tom Scott

  • @agargamer6759
    @agargamer67592 жыл бұрын

    I love how the camera work is always next level

  • @lukejohnson6415
    @lukejohnson64152 жыл бұрын

    "I'll die if I don't get out in ten minutes" me checking the runtime and seeing it's less than 10 minutes- phew

  • @evangrubis
    @evangrubis2 жыл бұрын

    The production value of these videos are incredible

  • @waynegoodwin3217
    @waynegoodwin32172 жыл бұрын

    Not bad for a West Australia, since we have no snow really,keep the good work up buddy.

  • @andrewevenson2657
    @andrewevenson26572 жыл бұрын

    Super high quality video, keep them like this you’re doing it right man!

  • @autodidacticartisan
    @autodidacticartisan2 жыл бұрын

    5:16 sin counter: DING!

  • @keithswindell6212
    @keithswindell62122 жыл бұрын

    Your skier looks a lot like Mr. Bill - Look Mr. Bill, it's an avalanche! OHHHH NOOOOOO! :-)

  • @johnyjo3973
    @johnyjo39732 жыл бұрын

    I gave up watching youtube for lent, but had to make an exception when I accidentally went to the homepage and saw you had a new video out :P

  • @robbicu
    @robbicu2 жыл бұрын

    You added some freakin' awesome graphics and special effects. Also, I suspect there is a substantial blooper reel. ;)

  • @sirBrouwer

    @sirBrouwer

    2 жыл бұрын

    the title at the start was cool that when he was starting to turn it stayed where it was like it existed really in that space.

  • @JoeKyser
    @JoeKyser2 жыл бұрын

    When I was getting ready to go on a heli ski trip I had learn about all this stuff. We had to take a 6 hour class before we could even sign up to go. It covered more than avalanches, but that was the main jist of it.

  • @porkopio9468
    @porkopio94682 жыл бұрын

    I have never seen snow here in the tropical area but I learned a lot from this video

  • @yuGtahT
    @yuGtahT2 жыл бұрын

    Underrated channel.

  • @seanhalldorson1746
    @seanhalldorson17462 жыл бұрын

    I used to have something similar happened when I used to roof. We would sit on a foam pads that would get granular from the shingles underneath. It would hit a critical mass and we might as well have been sitting on ball bearings.

  • @l8dawn
    @l8dawn2 жыл бұрын

    oh my god the production levels of this video are incredible!! definitely subscribing :)

  • @DDDDDDDDDD12
    @DDDDDDDDDD122 жыл бұрын

    The quality of this video is amazing. Thank you for the great video😁

  • @lukewaite9144
    @lukewaite91442 жыл бұрын

    Doing a bit to camera while also skiing is actually really impressive

  • @startagain127
    @startagain1272 жыл бұрын

    youre awesome man - love your videos and you have a good personality! bless

  • @pagle958
    @pagle9582 жыл бұрын

    This is one of your best videos I've seen yet. Good job

  • @RyanEmmett
    @RyanEmmett2 жыл бұрын

    Great video!

  • @beepmeep760
    @beepmeep7602 жыл бұрын

    Amazing video! I personally just find it weird how you always sound like when talking, you don’t breathe normally. Still, amazing video, i never knew exactly how avalanches are created.

  • @mirokorinek5834
    @mirokorinek58342 жыл бұрын

    An incredibly well-made video! Thanks!

  • @Donke267
    @Donke2672 жыл бұрын

    1:00 you can see the shadow of the selfie stick

  • @wgwells
    @wgwells2 жыл бұрын

    How has this video not blown up yet...great work bro!

  • @krikon3314
    @krikon33142 жыл бұрын

    Great video man!!

  • @rushi5638
    @rushi56382 жыл бұрын

    "are you a hillside prone to avalanche? 'cause you got some depth hoar"

  • @HootyTooty
    @HootyTooty2 жыл бұрын

    The production value of this is incredible.

  • @habiboi_
    @habiboi_2 жыл бұрын

    awesome video as always!

  • @applesushi
    @applesushi2 жыл бұрын

    The box of Weet-Bix was a nice touch.

  • @74wf
    @74wf2 жыл бұрын

    Takin stay calm to the next level

  • @Justingambaccini
    @Justingambaccini2 жыл бұрын

    Prometheus school of running away from things. Classic.

  • @charliemossop4057
    @charliemossop40572 жыл бұрын

    very informative!

  • @iiballisticpanda
    @iiballisticpanda2 жыл бұрын

    What a good video, nice production!

  • @minerharry
    @minerharry2 жыл бұрын

    “According to the Prometheus school of running away from things” Nice

  • @gibbymcintyre3023
    @gibbymcintyre30232 жыл бұрын

    What a great brain you have! Fun to watch.

  • @thomasmander7033
    @thomasmander70332 жыл бұрын

    That was such a good video, amazing demonstration in the kitchen too

  • @Jaebler
    @Jaebler2 жыл бұрын

    Your visuals are so on point👌

  • @Halinn
    @Halinn2 жыл бұрын

    In the future, there will be comments noting that this was the last video ever uploaded by James.

  • @Studiepi
    @Studiepi2 жыл бұрын

    Waiting for the next episode to start with I'm here with a nuclear bomb about to land on my head... here's how to survive.

  • @CraftsmanOfAwsomenes
    @CraftsmanOfAwsomenes2 жыл бұрын

    Insane camera work