{"id":2026026,"date":"2026-07-03T22:07:51","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T19:07:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2026026"},"modified":"2026-07-03T22:07:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T19:07:51","slug":"two-osu-cascades-students-invent-device-to-prevent-tree-well-deaths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2026026","title":{"rendered":"Two OSU-Cascades Students Invent Device to Prevent Tree Well Deaths"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center;display: block\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"><strong>Many picture dramatic events, such as avalanches, as the main danger faced by skiers and riders on the slopes.<\/strong> However, within in-bounds terrain, tree wells have actually been far more dangerous in the United States. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/outdoor-adventure\/snow-sports\/tree-well-death-snow-immersion-suffocation-powder-day\/\">According to outdoor educator and former ski patrol director Paul Baugher<\/a>, 90 people died at U.S. resorts due to tree well-induced snow immersion suffocation (SIS) between 2001 and 2025.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/big-snow-can-also-bring-big-problems-snow-immersion-suffocation\/\"><em><strong> Big Snow Can Also Bring Big Problems: Snow Immersion Suffocation<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"><strong>Tree wells form in the space around the trunk of a tree, underneath its branches.<\/strong> Because this area is shielded by the tree\u2019s canopy, it sees far less snowfall accumulation than surrounding locations, creating a low-density pocket of snow incapable of supporting the weight of those unlucky enough to fall into it. Those who catch an edge or clip a branch and end up headfirst in a tree well are often unable to escape the quicksand-like conditions, leading to dozens of SIS deaths over the years.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_84152\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-84152\" style=\"width: 304px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tree-Well-2.gif?ssl=1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"wp-image-84152 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tree-Well-2.gif?resize=304%2C525&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Tree Well Safety Sign, California\" width=\"304\" height=\"525\"><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-84152\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Illustration of a tree well. Image: Ski California<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-1\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;display: block;clear: both\">\n<!-- GAM 71161633\/SNWBR_snowbrains\/article_hrec_1 --><\/p>\n<div data-fuse=\"article_hrec_1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"><strong>So, how does one avoid a tree well-related death?<\/strong> First and foremost, it is important to always ski with a partner in densely gladed terrain, as those not already in a tree well will be much better positioned to get you out of one. However, sightlines are often limited in the forest, and it is far too easy to lose visual contact with your ski buddy. As reported by <a href=\"https:\/\/wms.org\/magazine\/magazine\/1205\/Tree-Wells\/Default.aspx\">Wilderness Medicine Magazine<\/a>, 72% of those who died in SIS incidents were, in fact, skiing with a partner at the time. It is clear that more safety measures must be introduced to prevent deaths of this kind, and thankfully, <a href=\"https:\/\/osucascades.edu\/\">OSU-Cascades<\/a> students may have a revolutionary solution: The Tree Well Guardian.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-16\" style=\"margin: 8px 0;clear: both\">\n<div id=\"sb-newsletter\" style=\"background:#2B2E3A;border-top:3px solid #D7424E;padding:26px 24px 22px;margin:28px 0;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;width:100%;display:block\">\n<p>    @media (max-width:600px) {<br \/>\n      #sb-newsletter { padding:18px 20px 14px !important; }<br \/>\n      #sb-newsletter h3 { font-size:14px !important; white-space:nowrap; }<br \/>\n      #sb-newsletter .sb-body { font-size:12px !important; margin-bottom:8px !important; }<br \/>\n      #sb-newsletter .sb-proof { font-size:11px !important; }<br \/>\n      #sb-newsletter .sb-form-row { flex-wrap:nowrap !important; }<br \/>\n      #sb-newsletter .sb-form-row input { font-size:12px !important; padding:9px 10px !important; }<br \/>\n      #sb-newsletter .sb-form-row button { font-size:12px !important; padding:9px 12px !important; }<br \/>\n    }<\/p>\n<div id=\"sb-form-wrap\">\n<p style=\"font-size:13px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;color:#D7424E;margin:0 0 9px 0;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif\">SnowBrains Newsletter<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color:#ffffff;font-size:19px;font-weight:700;margin:0 0 6px 0;line-height:1.25;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif\">The snowsports journalism skiers trust.<\/h3>\n<p class=\"sb-body\" style=\"color:#ffffff;font-size:13px;margin:0 0 8px 0;line-height:1.5;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif\">Award-winning journalism, resort reports, powder forecasts and industry deep dives from the world&#8217;s largest independent snowsports outlet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sb-proof\" style=\"color:#9ca3af;font-size:12px;font-style:italic;margin:0 0 12px 0;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif\">Join thousands of snow lovers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-form-row\" style=\"display:flex;gap:8px;flex-wrap:wrap\">\n<p>      <button style=\"background:#D7424E;color:#fff;border:none;border-radius:4px;padding:10px 20px;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;font-weight:700;cursor:pointer;white-space:nowrap\">Subscribe free \u2192<\/button>\n    <\/div>\n<p style=\"color:#ffffff;font-size:11px;margin:10px 0 0 0;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif\">No spam. Unsubscribe any time.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"sb-success\" style=\"display:none\">\n<p style=\"color:#ffffff;font-size:26px;font-weight:700;margin:0 0 8px 0;line-height:1.2;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif\">You&#8217;re in!<\/p>\n<p style=\"color:#ffffff;font-size:15px;margin:0;line-height:1.5;,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif\">Thanks for signing up. The best ski news is on its way.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>function sbSubscribe() {<br \/>\n  var email = document.getElementById(&#8216;sb-email&#8217;).value;<br \/>\n  if (!email || !email.includes(&#8216;@&#8217;)) {<br \/>\n    document.getElementById(&#8216;sb-email&#8217;).style.borderColor = &#8216;#D7424E&#8217;;<br \/>\n    return;<br \/>\n  }<br \/>\n  var url = &#8216;https:\/\/snowbrains.us5.list-manage.com\/subscribe\/post?u=1f247afab0a546e393c022f9a&amp;id=bcbf6caf6b&amp;f_id=003bf2e0f0&#8217;;<br \/>\n  var data = new FormData();<br \/>\n  data.append(&#8216;EMAIL&#8217;, email);<br \/>\n  data.append(&#8216;tags&#8217;, &#8216;2188762&#8217;);<br \/>\n  data.append(&#8216;b_1f247afab0a546e393c022f9a_bcbf6caf6b&#8217;, &#8221;);<br \/>\n  fetch(url, { method: &#8216;POST&#8217;, body: data, mode: &#8216;no-cors&#8217; });<br \/>\n  document.getElementById(&#8216;sb-form-wrap&#8217;).style.display = &#8216;none&#8217;;<br \/>\n  document.getElementById(&#8216;sb-success&#8217;).style.display = &#8216;block&#8217;;<br \/>\n}\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"><strong>Bend, Oregon-based college students Makani Hiltner and Hunter Erhard invented the Tree Well Guardian in response to SIS-related deaths at nearby <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mtbachelor.com\/?gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=14958891095&amp;gbraid=0AAAAACPbrPVcA-G9aQGOv80oYgu23NjNQ&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwu53SBhAhEiwAJzSLNkpk0AmRMsWJgHMXv8AzZwJfN1uCHZs7AY9JJR-0QzFL4haF1VYOBxoCds8QAvD_BwE\">Mount Bachelor<\/a>.<\/strong> The device, which started as a class project, is about the size of an avalanche beacon and clips onto the top of a ski boot. When flipped upside down \u2014 as it would be if attached to a rider immersed in a tree well \u2014 the Guardian sends a precise GPS alert to nearby emergency services. To prevent false alarms, such as one caused by a user taking a tumble on an open slope, the product comes equipped with two 10-second warning periods, during which non-immersed riders can manually shut off the alarm.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/seattle-skier-dies-in-tragic-tree-well-accident-at-mt-bachelor-or\/\"><em><strong>Seattle Skier Dies in Tragic Tree Well Accident at Mt. Bachelor, OR<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>While still a prototype at this stage, the project is off to a promising start, having won second place at the 2026 InventOR finals.<\/strong> Given continued progress, it is not difficult to envision a future where the Tree Well Guardian is as ubiquitous as modern safety devices like the avalanche beacon. If and when Erhard and Hiltner\u2019s project becomes publicly available, it could prove revolutionary for the safety of those skiing and riding in forested terrain \u2014 perhaps making SIS deaths, at least at their current scale, a thing of the past.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_84150\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-84150\" style=\"width: 590px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tree-Well-min.jpg?ssl=1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"wp-image-84150 size-full lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAk4AAAGtAQMAAADar2kHAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADZJREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T20ON6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALg19rwABVHIRTwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt=\"National Geographic, Tree Well, Rescue, Practice, Deep Snow\" width=\"590\" height=\"429\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tree-Well-min.jpg?resize=590%2C429&amp;ssl=1\" data-eio-rwidth=\"590\" data-eio-rheight=\"429\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"wp-image-84150 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Tree-Well-min.jpg?resize=590%2C429&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"National Geographic, Tree Well, Rescue, Practice, Deep Snow\" width=\"590\" height=\"429\" data-eio=\"l\"><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-84150\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tree well rescue. Image: National Geographic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">\n<!-- CONTENT END 1 -->\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many picture dramatic events, such as avalanches, as the main danger faced by skiers and riders on the slopes. However, within in-bounds terrain, tree wells have actually been far more dangerous in the United States. According to outdoor educator and former ski patrol director Paul Baugher, 90 people died at U.S. resorts due to tree [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,267],"class_list":["post-2026026","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-snowbrains-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2026026","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2026026"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2026026\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2026026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2026026"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2026026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}