Avalanche Risks

AVALANCHE: BETTER TO PREVENT…

In snowy mountains, as soon as you leave the marked and secured world of ski slopes, you enter a risk zone. To the classic dangers that await the ski or snowshoe hiker, the free rider, or the snowboarder, is added the danger of avalanches.

Every year, a few accidents and deaths by avalanche are reported. But although these mostly happen in winter, it should not be forgotten that they can also occur in spring and summer.

Knowing the basic safety rules and applying them gives you the best chance of staying safe by taking precautions to avoid facing avalanche risk. If you do not have the necessary knowledge, do not hesitate to call on the services of a mountain professional.

THE AVALANCHE RISK SCALE

In Europe, avalanche risks are measured on a scale from 1 to 5

Low – 1
Avalanches are generally only possible due to heavy overload and on very rare extremely steep slopes. Only small slides may occur. Generally, skiing conditions are safe.

Limited – 2
Avalanches are possible mainly due to heavy overload. However, large spontaneous avalanches are not to be feared. Skiing conditions are mostly favorable.

Marked – 3
Avalanches are sometimes possible even with light overload. In some situations, several spontaneous avalanches of medium size, and sometimes quite large, are possible. Avoid steep slopes with risky exposure and altitude as much as possible.

Strong – 4
Avalanches are likely even with light overload on many steep slopes. Conditions are unfavorable. Assessing avalanche danger requires a lot of experience. Limit yourself to less steep slopes.

A lire : Alpine Skiing: Nutrition

Very strong – 5
Spontaneously, many large avalanches are expected, even on gentle terrain. Skiing conditions are very unfavorable. Staying home is preferable…

And in all cases, when you are off-piste, remember to take an ARVA, a snow shovel, and a probe.

SOME USEFUL INFORMATION

An avalanche can occur as soon as there is snow on a slope. Most of the time, this snow holds. Nevertheless, there are cases where it is unstable and can start to slide: that is an avalanche.

Its start can be spontaneous: the snow breaks by itself because it is too fragile. It can be triggered by an external element, most often, the passage of a person. The overload that results is not supported by the snowpack, which breaks. Weather conditions have a great influence on avalanche risk. Three of them increase it particularly:

snowfalls, which take some time to stabilize. But beware, an avalanche can occur even if there is little snow, or even if it has not snowed for a long time.

the wind, which makes the snow more sensitive to accidental triggering.

rises in temperature, which soften the snow and are the cause of melt avalanches (especially in spring but also in midwinter). But beware, cold is not always synonymous with stability.

Relief also plays an important role. Depending on altitude, exposure to sun or wind, slope angle, its profile, and proximity to ridges, the avalanche risk will be greater or lesser.

TO REMEMBER

even on a small slope, an avalanche can be dangerous.
forests do not always prevent or stop an avalanche.
an avalanche can be triggered at a distance, even when passing at the foot of a slope at a mildly steep spot.

A lire : Alpine skiing - Preparation

BEFORE LEAVING

outside of developed and secured routes, inform yourself.

Check the avalanche risk forecast bulletin from Météo France: 08 92 68 10 20 – https://meteofrance.com/meteo-montagne
Also inquire with mountain professionals (patrollers, rescuers, guides, and companions…) for more precise local information.

MUST DO

Equip yourself with an ARVA (avalanche victim search transmitter-receiver), a shovel, and a probe and know how to use this equipment.
Inform someone of your route and your approximate return time.
Do not go alone, but not with just anyone either. A small group is easier to manage.

IN CASE OF DOUBT ABOUT THE STABILITY OF A MANDATORY PASSAGE: