01
SKI TOURING & RISK SPACE
SCROLL
CHOOSE YOUR PATH
An initiation or refresher course in snow safety at the beginning of each season is therefore a wise reflex for all types of independent mountaineers. Off-piste freeriders, snowshoe hikers, winter alpinists and touring skiers – we all want to descend in one piece at the end of the day.
CREDIT: ZEGER DOX
SCROLL
Courses in avalanche science and first aid come in many shapes and sizes. This winter I myself participated in a snow safety course in the mountains in the broadest sense of the word. We discussed theory in the morning and put our knowledge into practice throughout the afternoon. The main themes covered were first aid, avalanche science and general planning. We undertook numerous avalanche simulations with a variation of victims numbers and rescuers, we dug igloos to keep our ‘victims’ warm, fake bleeding was planted at the scene to simulate trauma, together we learnt and practiced resuscitation techniques on dolls and constructed splints for broken arms and legs.
CREDIT: ZEGER DOX
SCROLL
1.0
The supply of such training is growing year-on-year both at home and abroad. Don't just tick the box here, choose a reputable organisation that has skin in the game. Also check the content of the course corresponds to your needs and expectations. Several organisations such as Sneeuwsport Vlaanderen, Klim- en Bergsport Federatie and NKBV regularly offer introductory and specific workshops, internships and courses. Some purely theoretical, others in the field. Check for early season offers and register before heading off to the slopes this winter.
CREDIT: ZEGER DOX
SKI TOURING & RISK SPACE
SKI TOURING & RISK SPACE
02
STATISTICS & BEST PRACTICE
SCROLL
4
IN
10
First, the good news is that, if the victim is alive after the initial impact, they have an 80% chance of survival if dug out in the first 12 minutes. But after that the news is not so good. It is thought that unless recovery is made within 30 minutes, an avalanche victim’s chances of survival are less than 50/50. Out of all skiers buried by an avalanche, only 4 out of 10 survive.
SCROLL
1347
Over a recent period 1347 people were known to of survived partial or complete burial by avalanche. Of these:
39%
Dug themselves out.
34%
Were dug out by survivors on the scene
27%
Were recovered by rescue teams - but most of these were near ski resorts.
SCROLL
1000
In that same period close to 1000 died - two-thirds by suffocation. The fact is that less than one-third of those buried survive, and this doesn’t refer to deep burial. For those buried under less than 50cm of snow the survival rate is around 45%. At more than 2 metres only 1% survive, and below 3 metres…?
STATISTICS & BEST PRACTICE
STATISTICS & BEST PRACTICE
SCROLL
THE HUMAN FACTOR
Many people automatically think of snow safety as avalanches. However, there are plenty of other factors to consider before imposing the risers or buckling your bones at the top of the slope. These factors are also often human. 'Heuristics' is the collective term for human mental shortcuts that influence decisions. Of these, peer pressure is the most well-known, but also individual expectations, previous expectations and uncertainty or excessive enthusiasm. For example, people who only have a few days of skiing vacation often take risks that they would not take if they had more time. Also, familiar descents are often mistakenly considered safe and people stick to a predetermined plan despite indications that this would be better adjusted throughout the day.
SCROLL
AVALANCHE DANGER
SCROLL
ADVANCED FIRST AID
For those that already have a first aid certification in their salopettes, it’s reaffirming to know that these foundational principles are also valid in the high mountains. But circumstances in this challenging environment can be much trickier. This is why simulating practical applications is of the greatest importance to ensure you are prepared to act quickly if and when things go wrong. The first step is to save a life (bleeding, consciousness, breathing), simultaneously calling for support from rescue services as soon as is physically possible, ensuring that everyone within your ski touring group has the local emergency support number to hand at all times.
PREPARE TO FAIL
Don't be too ambitious when you take your first steps off the beaten slopes. Plan manageable tours and know your own limits. Deep in to inhospitable terrain is not the place to test it out. In our digital age, we are blessed with numerous websites where you can find GPS files for detailed tours including hut-to-hut overnight refuge stops. Useful tools such as the Fatmap app allow you to project the slope on a 3D map to get a better view of the terrain from the comfort of your sofa. Also websites of course providers and reputable brands are a good source of information. A golden tip is, for example, the Snow Guide Book in the online Safety Academy on the Ortovox website. Discuss your trip in advance with all group members, don't forget to talk about possible options to drop out and plan moments throughout the day when the plans can change. Big dreams are made with small steps! Before you know it, you'll be on your way from cabin to cabin for a multi-day winter tour.
03
THE THREE ESSENTIALS
SCROLL
TRANSCIEVER
Owning one will not stop you getting caught in an avalanche, but if you are buried it is almost your only hope of being found - dead or alive. A transceiver is not a substitute for good practice, it is part of it. Route planning, route choice and constant avalanche awareness are the basic ways to minimise risk.
Every skier going off-piste or touring should have a transceiver. However, it is not enough to own one: you must wear it and know how to use it in an emergency. That skill only comes from practice, regular and realistic practice against the clock - remember the first 12-15 minutes are all-important. Get into the habit of turning your transceiver on when you put it on in the morning and leaving it on until you return in the evening. Never turn our transceiver off during the day to save the battery. It is all too easy to forget to turn it on again.
Having turned your transceiver on make sure you carry out a transceiver check both on leaving the hut and at other times during the day, especially after rest stops. Rather than standing around in a huddle and checking transceivers work when you are standing next to each other, get one person to ski away (say 30m) from the group with their transceiver in receive mode. Then one at a time the group members with their transceivers in transmit mode ski towards the person on receive. As soon as the person receiving picks up the signal they should signify it. This gives a good indication of signal strength, which seems to vary amongst different makes of transceiver. Someone should then check that the person on receive is also transmitting correctly. Everyone should carry spare batteries on a long tour.
CREDIT: ORTOVOX
SCROLL
SNOW SHOVEL
It is not enough to have one or two shovels in a group of four or six skiers. Everyone should carry an avalanche shovel. One reason why I like touring with North American clients is the size of their shovels! They carry big metal-bladed things that can shift snow fast, not flimsy things the size of dessert spoons. This really is a case of size being important. Don’t bother with tiny blades that attach to ice axes or ski poles that bend the moment they come into contact with hard snow. If you were buried what would you want your rescuers to use?
CREDIT: ORTOVOX
SCROLL
PROBE
Used in conjunction with a transceiver avalanche probes can quickly establish the exact position of a body before initial digging. For a final search or deep burial they are a must. They are also useful for testing the snow structure by probing rather than digging once you know the snow profile on a given aspect. This is particularly useful on the move. But it is not enough simply to carry these essential tools, you have to know how to use them in an emergency. Especially with dealing with multiple burials where you have to work as a team. Practice regularly.
CREDIT: ORTOVOX
THE THREE ESSENTIALS
THE THREE ESSENTIALS
THE THREE ESSENTIALS
04
SNOW STABILITY CHECKLIST
SCROLL
ASSESSING
SNOW STABILITY
There is a lot you can do to assess snow stability before you go on tour. Snowpack is the result of past snowfall and weather conditions, and you need this information to understand how it has built up. Weather reports, avalanche bulletins and websites provide an often detailed picture of what conditions have been and are now like on the hill. Tourist Offices and Guide Bureaus, as well as knowledgeable locals, can all provide additional information.
Once on tour you need to evaluate snow stability constantly because the slope aspect, altitude and conditions are always changing. To some degree ski mountaineers gain a feel for slope angle, snow and conditions from experience over time. It’s always useful to have a procedure when evaluating snow stability. Aim to gather targeted information that will help you build an informed picture. Eliminate unessential information and go straight for the bull’s-eye.
SCROLL
This is a checklist for assessing snow stability similar to those used by British mountain guides and avalanche professionals around the world. I’m always surprised by how easy it is to overlook obvious signs of both danger and stability. The checklist is useful as an aide-memoire to help systematically observe, test and record pertinent information and so build up a profile of snow stability at a particular time and place. This information provides a more complete picture when the time comes to make a judgement about avalanche danger.
SCROLL
Used in conjunction with a transceiver avalanche probes can quickly establish the exact position of a body before initial digging. For a final search or deep burial they are a must. They are also useful for testing the snow structure by probing rather than digging once you know the snow profile on a given aspect. This is particularly useful on the move. But it is not enough simply to carry these essential tools, you have to know how to use them in an emergency. Especially with dealing with multiple burials where you have to work as a team. Practice regularly.
SNOW STABILITY CHECKLIST
SNOW STABILITY CHECKLIST
Evaluation Factors
Record Information
Influence/trend Stable
Influence/trend Unstable
Slope angle
Snow depth
Paste avalanche activity
Current avalanche activity
Shear tests
Snowpack structure
Snow temperature
Precipitation
Wind
Effect of past winds
Surface penetration
Air temperature
Solar radiation
Snow settlement
Humidity
Weather forecast
Avalanche forecast
Stability rating (based on the above)
01
Key Points In Avalanche Awareness
02
European Avalanche Hazard Scale
03
Avalanche Accidents
04
The Search
05
Immediate Response to Victims