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Avalanche awareness and mountain safety
Lots of factors led to last season's figures: big snow, wind, extreme temperatures and ever-increasing numbers heading off piste with relatively little expertise. More controversially, properly equipped and trained riders also made up the numbers, probably through risk compensation, adapting their behaviour in response to the sense of safety provided by their gear and training. It's a reminder that 'the avalanche doesn't know you're an expert'.
If that has suddenly rekindled your interest in piste bashing and long lunches, don't give up the powder dream too easily. It will always be the ultimate mountain experience and there are several ways to manage the risks:
• day trips with a guide
• off-piste courses to improve technique, learn basic avalanche safety and how to use your transceiver
• avalanche awareness courses, to focus further on mountain safety
And even when you've got a bit more knowledge don't forget to practise: check out the Avalanche Training Centres modelled on the original version in the Swiss resort of Zinal and now found in Davos, Andermatt and Mürren in Switzerland, and La Grave, Courchevel and Méribel in France.
Another issue is where to ride off piste?
This is not just a question of steepest and deepest but about the way resorts
manage their terrain. In North America, most
resorts have strict boundaries within which large tracts of unmarked, unpisted
but avalanche controlled terrain is yours for the taking. By contrast, in Europe even the area between two pistes is not necessarily
avalanche controlled; but with the exception of some natural reserves you can
go anywhere you please beyond the confines of a resort. Happily, a number of
Alpine resorts are trying the American model - Avoriaz, St Anton, Flims, Zermatt and Verbier are some of the big resorts that now
have unpisted routes which are at least partially avalanche-controlled.
Nevertheless, these and other monster off piste destinations like Chamonix will always be places where guiding improves
your experience. Wyoming's Jackson Hole meets Europe halfway, with both exceptional inbound ‘off piste’
and excellent backcountry (and local guides to take you there). But name-checks
aren’t everything: Engelberg, Switzerland (with almost 2000 metres (6500 feet) of epic vertical) and Big Sky, Montana are known to the discerning few not just for
their snow but a lack of people. And that’s the real issue where fresh tracks are
concerned, by definition.
• Courses, Europe
• Courses, North America
• Avalanches? A guide
• A day with ski patrollers
RELATED PAGES:
• Off-piste skiing
• Extreme Classics
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Avalanche guide
Some passages in this section are extracted from Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper, Director of the Utah Avalanche Center.
Buy this book...
Avalanche safety
• Go one at a time and always think about who will do the rescue if somthing goes wrong
• Be wary of cornices. Never walk up to the edge of a drop-off
• Ski gently. Wider skis are better then narrow skis, and a snowboard is better yet
• Remember the avalanche doesn't know (or care) that you're an expert
Safety equipment
• Owing and carry equipment is not good enough - practise with it
• Carry a compass and inclinometer
• Take an avalanche awareness class
Avalanche gear
Make sure you have the best gear, available from Facewest.
