Buried alive: A qualitative study of avalanche survivors learning experience

Avalanches remain a leading cause of fatalities in winter backcountry recreation, yet little is known about what survivors learn from these accidents. This study explores how people involved in avalanches make sense of their experiences and how such learning influences later risk management practices. Twenty-eight avalanche survivors from Norway participated in in-depth interviews. Using an abductive thematic analysis informed by experiential learning and backcountry risk-management frameworks, we identified three areas of learning: (1) a more embodied understanding of avalanche consequences and terrain–condition interactions; (2) greater awareness of decision-making challenges, including overconfidence and goal-driven behaviour; and (3) adjustments in practical risk management, such as more conservative terrain choices and improved communication within groups. Learning outcomes varied widely and were often constrained by the specific context of each accident. These findings offer insight into how emotional, experience-based learning can shape avalanche risk management and highlight opportunities for education and forecasting practices to integrate survivor perspectives.