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| Avalanche - Reducing Risk |
The best way to reduce the risk of being caught in an avalanche is never to embark on an off-piste run that takes you through exposed terrain.
Sooner or later, though, you will find yourself in a situation where you suddenly realise that there is a very real risk of an avalanche. It's a horrible feeling.
If you find yourself in this predicament, get yourself out of immediate danger as quickly as possible under the lee of a rock. Make sure that everyone in your group understands the situation, then decide whether or not you can hike out. It is better to slog uphill for a few hours, even if it means arriving home after nightfall, rather than risking death by continuing.
If you decide to continue, take the following precautions:
- Minimise the time spent in exposed locations, such as narrow gullies or obvious chutes where earlier avalanches have destroyed the trees.
- Plan your path to stick to ridges or valley floors. Take advantage of safer areas, such as among trees and below, rather than above, rocks.
- Loosen any equipment that you may need to jettison in a hurry (rucksacks, powder straps and poles).
- Move one by one, with a safe gap between members of the group. Do not assume it is safe because others have traversed successfully. Group members should wait in safety and watch the moving skier.
- Do not stop on exposed slopes. If you fall, get moving again as quickly as possible. Cleaning your glasses can wait until you reach safety.
- Cross exposed slopes as early as possible. As a general rule, exposed south-facing slopes should not be attempted after about 11.00am, when the sun has warmed them.
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| Learn From Situations |
If you end up in this situation, learn from it. Discuss how it happened. Make sure it never happens again.
And if you are going to continue skiing off-piste, invest in a transceiver and other safety equipment, and take a course in how to use them.
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