Basic questions before skiing off-piste

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Basic questions before skiing off-piste"

Nathan Jacobs
6 years ago
Views:

1 Basic questions before skiing off-piste WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT OFF-PISTE & SKIING SAFETY

2 WARNING Skiing off-piste requires a lot of knowledge and practice. Yet it involves some serious hazards. Reading these lines entail the sole responsibility of the reader. La Chamoniarde will not be held responsible for any accident occurring after reading this booklet. Conception / réalisation : La Chamoniarde - Pôle Montagne Risk Tous droits réservés Impression avec le soutien financier du programme Interreg V-A Francia-Italia ALCOTRA PrevriskHauteMontagne photo de couverture : Julia Roger-veyer

3 BASICS OFF-PISTE SKIING Avalanche beacon, shovel, probe and an ABS avalanche pack will not STOP AN AVALANCHE from occurring. First you must check conditions (see what you should know ). If you chose to ride off-piste, prepare yourself and be properly equipped photo : Julia Roger-veyer

4 WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT snow and avalanches SNOW COVER Consecutive snowfalls forming packed snow layers are subject to change during winter. Tip: Pole test (evaluating slope angle) Place your pole horizontally on the snow, keeping to the downhill angle of the slope. Then plant each pole exactly at each end of the track left by the pole. Connect both pole straps. Pole leaning uphill On slopes angled over 30, avalanches can be naturally triggered (due to rain, snowfall, temperature rising), or accidentally triggered by skiers (one or more), or when both situations occur. Super tip: download the inclinometer app on your telephone < 30 = 30 pole in a straight up position > 30 Pole leaning downhill 3 types of avalanches Powder snow avalanches (may occur during snowfall) Wind slabs (most frequent and most dangerous) Wet snow (during spring time or rainfall) CLUES! Wind and temperature variations can directly effect snow cover stability. Note that recent weather conditions (last hour, day or week) basically affect snow cover overall, and therefore have an impact on avalanche hazard! WIND? RAIN? SNOW? RECENT AVALANCHES? Temperature rising?

5 It is hard, almost impossible for ALL OF US to daily keep a close eye on snow cover above valley ground. METEO FRANCE solves the problem with a DAILY snow report. (Avalanche hazard assessment report) An absolute must for all riders! (Turn to see example) It evaluates the risk - 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 - elevation? - slope aspect? Avalanche hazard flags and pictograms It analyses snow cover stability (It sees everything one can t see from above) It is available each night. Go online and freely access the METEO FRANCE website. ( Each day the flag and its pictogram are a brief indicator of the situation. One needs more to choose a riding line accordingly Snow stability is ok but off-piste, they are always dangers (cliffs, rocks, roots, crevasses...) Snow stability is not so worse but I should avoid some specific areas. Because the risk is quite high on some of the slope aspects, I will have to chose my lines carefully if I don t want to get caught in an avalanche. (Level 3 must be considered as high, in other words the hazard is SIGNIFICANT or even CONSI- DERABLE ) 4 Chances that I trigger an avalanche myself are very high everywhere. 5 What s up on TV? Flag warning and pictogram don t provide information about slope aspects, snow quality and type of avalanche expected. Avalanche hazard grade, flag and pictogram indicate several possible triggering sources! Reading the avalanche hazard assessment report (BERA) is the only reliable source of information that will help you select the right riding line and minimize risk.

05/01/2016 13:24:48 BULLETIN D'ESTIMATION DU RISQUE D'AVALANCHE MASSIF DU MONT-BLANC (Valable en dehors des pistes balisées et ouvertes) ESTIMATION DU RISQUE JUSQU'AU MERCREDI 06 JANVIER 2016 AU SOIR

6 05/01/ :24:48 BULLETIN D'ESTIMATION DU RISQUE D'AVALANCHE MASSIF DU MONT-BLANC (Valable en dehors des pistes balisées et ouvertes) ESTIMATION DU RISQUE JUSQU'AU MERCREDI 06 JANVIER 2016 AU SOIR Au-dessus de 2200 m : Risque fort. En-dessous : Risque marqué m 3 5 très fort, 4 fort, 3 marqué, 2 limité, 1 faible N O E S neige instable : pentes plus dangereuses AVIS DE FORT RISQUE D'AVALANCHE Départs spontanés : quelques ruptures de plaques possibles Déclenchements skieurs : possibles même à distance STABILITE DU MANTEAU NEIGEUX Mercredi, les nouvelles chutes de neige attendues pourront provoquer naturellement quelques ruptures de plaques, localement un départ d'avalanche dans un couloir encore très chargé (moyenne/haute montagne) Vu l'empilement des couches de neige récentes non stabilisées, régulièrement ventées, de nombreuses pentes sont sensibles au moindre passage (une seule personne), parfois même en passant au pied de la pente. Plus haut que 2200 m environ, une cassure de plaque peut emporter toute l'épaisseur de neige présente ven. 1 NEIGE FRAICHE à 1800 m passée prévue sam. 2 dim. 3 lun. 4 mar. 5 (journée + nuit suivante) 15 mer. 6 (cm) APERCU METEO pluie-neige iso 0 C vent 2000 m vent 4000 m mercredi 6 janv. nuit matin après-midi 700 m 1000 m 10 km/h 30 km/h 1000 m 10 km/h 30 km/h 700 m 1000 m 10 km/h 40 km/h EPAISSEUR DE NEIGE HORS-PISTE QUALITE DE LA NEIGE Mercredi, les nouvelles chutes de neige, peu ventées, apporteront de la poudreuse, reposant sur de la neige plus ou moins ventée. Si les départs skis ou raquettes aux pieds peuvent s'effectuer dès 1000/1200 m, le manque de sous-couche demande encore une grande prudence lors des descentes à skis. De plus, les glaciers sont toujours peu enneigés. TENDANCE ULTERIEURE DU RISQUE jeudi 07 vendredi 08 BULLETIN NEIGE ET AVALANCHES Service 0,35 /min + prix appel Centre météorologique de Chamonix 134 avenue de Courmayeur CHAMONIX Courriel : chamonix@meteo.fr / Tel : / Fax : Elaboré le à 16h leg.

WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT BELIEVE photo : Gianvi Galtarossa It is safe because there are tracks! Hard Snow is stable! Great weather conditions are safe! We are safe because marked ski runs are close!

7 WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT BELIEVE photo : Gianvi Galtarossa It is safe because there are tracks! Hard Snow is stable! Great weather conditions are safe! We are safe because marked ski runs are close! That if you know this place well nothing can happen! Lot s of trees can hold snowload! Well, yeah..slopes above the trees could still break loose!... Situation to prove you wrong Yellow flag means no worries! No way, Jose! Yellow flag means that a lot of slopes are prone to see a slide occur. Only few lines are safely ridable or not! like a south aspect slope at 2 pm on a sunny spring day you ll get the ride of your life to hell!!

8 WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT skiing off piste as a group ALWAYS SKI ONE AFTER THE OTHER: Riders should always keep their distances from one another. YOU MUST STOP IN A SAFE PLACE just below a large rock or a huge tree

9 WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT EQUIPMENT Skiing equipment is different from the one used on the groomed. HORS-PISTE UNGROOMED (can go from powder to barely ridable to unridable) UNMARKED (no sign, no pole numbers, no map, no colours. No way to know where you are) NO SIGNS (avalanche risk on unmarked terrain with cliffs, rocks, roots, ice patches, crevasses etc) NOT PATROLLED (no one around to see or hear something in case of a problem) COMFORT KIT SAFETY KIT SAFETY KIT ++ An airbag backpack and let s be clear folks, is not an anti-avalanche bagpack! MIAM metal shovel UVA UVB ORIENTATION KIT compass altimeter map or topo «In addition» a Recco Reflector detectable by the rescue teams. It does not «replace» the avalanche beacon! Always Keep beacon away from all electronic device!

10 WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT searching for a single victim AVALANCHE DEPOSIT 20 m 20 m/60ft Victim search starts where victim was last seen: NO signal Searching for a first signal - Skiing down across avalanche deposit in long zig zag turns gets done quickly. BEEP! ,5 4 BEEp : signal Approximate search - Operate slowly - signal distance decreases - Follow the arrow 1, 1 1,6 Close-up search - Move very slowly - Take your skis off - keep the beacon close to snow - Search for shortest distance from signal Pay attention to where signal weakens exactly 2,6 Get as close as possible to the victim and

11 WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT probing and shovelling 90 The probe should be planted at a 90 degree angle with the snow, and as deep as possible into snow cover. Leave probe in place if in doubt or feeling resistance. As soon as you enter close-up search, start probing just behind the person who is searching for signal. Probe again just at signal marking flag. 25 cm Hold shovel like a rowing paddle Always start shovelling at least 2 meters below signal flag and probe in place. For best results group members should take turns at first signs of fatigue (4 min). In order to free victim rapidly, make sure you shovel and throw snow downhill and to the sides, and proceed to very first aid assistance (clear airways first). 80 cm To release a victim buried under 1 meter ( 3 feet) of snow it takes: 15 minutes with an avalanche beacon/ a shovel/a probe, 30 minutes without a probe, (after 15 min chances of survival are getting low), around 1h30 with a beacon only!!!

12 WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TRAINING TRAIN YOURSELF to save life! photo : Eric Courcier 2 groups, one person timing Equipment: >Beacon, shovel and probe Group A picks a slope and buries a transmitting back pack 80 cm ( 2,5 ft) deep into the snow. The timer starts and group B starts the search. Only one person searches for signal with the beacon. In the meantime, group A carries on with probing and shovelling practice exercises. Keep in mind that after 15 min chances of survival are very low. A successful operation highly depends on efficient probing and shovelling in order to gain time. A and B switch training exercise.

13 WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT DECISION MAKING Who would want to go freeriding when the risk for avalanche is at its HIGHEST, in a bad storm allowing poor or no visibility, in too steep and exposed terrain, or with lots of rocks and ice around? NOBODY! This is why the night before you ride, you should check: weather report The Avalanche risk assessment report (BERA) your skiing level the line conditions at the time MAISON DE LA MONTAGNE Office de Haute Montagne WEATHER REPORT CLUES First reading = FOR AVALANCHES BUT ALSO : Visibility In thick cloud conditions or fog, you can t see cliff bands, rocks, terrain variations, riding buddies Windchill rating wind increases sensation of cold and resulting damages : 40km/h ( 65 miles) wind will affect temperatures: -10 C drops to -20C. Temperatures Cold can cause finger and toe numbness leading to frost bite Rain/ snow poor visibility

14 BERA Just in case you skipped the first pages of our booklet, please go back and read the BERA section! LEVEL Don t just blindly follow a group down a 45 slope or a narrow, steep couloir, or you may regret it and wish you were on your coach watching TV. Get informed first! THE LINE - Are there any sheltered spots for stopping safely while skiing? - Is it exposed (cliff bands, crevasses, seracs)? - Does it get skied or not? - Does the slope angle exceed 30? - Are there any steep slopes above? Prepare for situations like: - weather changes ( ie. Fog), - Sending an alert ( assuming you know where you are) - or any other potential problem, KNOW YOUR ACCESS ROUTE AND LINE! CONDITIONS AT THE TIME Terrain and snow conditions can change constantly. It can change from skiable to absolutely unskiable or deadly overnight (for example due to a sudden wind gust during the night)? So get informed! If your check list is complete, tell friends about your plan and choice of line.

15 WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR SKI BUDDIES PARTY FRIENDS/BIG TALKERS/ WITH LOTS OF GREAT LOOKING GEAR/ WITH A GOPRO? ARE NOT ALWAYS THE ONES WHO KNOW THE MOST.??? THE BOSS?? Nor your personal ego, nor your desire to impress the girls, nor your amazing riding skills make a good GROUP LEADER of you. The group leader should have great leadership skills: he should be able to safely lead the group down the run, paying attention to all group members. Personality, skills, motivation and group profile are also important to select group leader. LISTEN TO YOUR MOOD AND BODY CONDITION

16 here we are!...well just about Once at the meeting point, we check weather report and skiing conditions again. - Have weather and snow conditions changed overnight ( check wind, temperatures and weather)? - If you are close to a groomed run, talk with a ski patroller about snow conditions and your choice of run. The group proceeds to avalanche beacon tests - batteries should show 50% charge minimum - test your beacon in receiving AND transmitting position! Beacons in receiving mode Group leader in receiving mode 2,6 1,1 1,1 x His beacon works in receiving mode but not in transmitting position - groomed runs - go home 1,1 2,6 One by one each group member walks past the group leader checking changes in distance scale on beacon. Note: The group leader must remember to switch position on his beacon at the end of the test. Now the group leader walks up to and past each group member in order to test transmission for each beacon individually.

17 ALONG THE ENTIRE RUN, from the beginning to the end : observe, listen, stay aware, ask yourself about conditions and in doubt KNOW TO TURN AROUND or CHANGE plan - Can you see signs of recent avalanches (spontaneously triggered or not)? Snow cracks forming while you are traversing across a slope? - Can you hear a hollow sound under your skis? - Can you feel strange and sudden movements under your feet? - Can you see signs of snow blown away and forming accumulation (windblown slopes, cornices, wind slabs)? - Take your skis off and see how deep your foot goes into the snow: up to your boot, knee or higher? - Use your ski pole, hold it upside down. Plant and push it down into the snow, trying to feel resistance due to varying quality of snow layers under you. - You can also dig a 1 m ( 3 feet) deep hole, and look for flimsy snow layers, or layers showing a potential for slides. These features are warnings that indicate that you have all the reasons to stay alert and stay alort and be extra careful. BEWARE OF THE DEADLY TRIO! knee deep powder flimsy buried snow layer steep slope above and down your ski line (>30 ) Plan A Run Plan B Run Plan C : turn around

18 IN CASE OF AVALANCHE Keep an eye on the victim until he disappears or gets buried 1Keep calm Call for rescue On site. call for help out loud: another group may be close and able to help, (you can whistle, move your arms up and down, use your poles, use your headlamp for signals in the dark). On the phone In France dial 112 In Switzerland dial (Wallis region) 144 In Italy dial (Aosta valley ) 112 Before calling take a couple of seconds to gather necessary information and inform about your location (map of ski area, phone GPS ). WHO? Your name Your phone number WHAT? Size of avalanche Number of buried victims WHERE? GPS RECORDS Be as precise as possible. Inform about location, the route, elevation, slope orientation... WEATHER CONDITIONS? Advise on visibility, wind? Possible Drop zone? (helicopter landing area) If there is no mobile phone service, chose 2 reliable people in the group and send them down to find phone reception, to reach the closest hut or to the nearest ski lifts, where he is able to access the nearest emergency station. If there is no service and you are alone, proceed to SEARCHING!

19 3You are looking for the victim - Look for signs on the surface - Start searching using your avalanche beacon - probe and clear snow above the victim - proceed to first aid gestures - comfort and keep the victim warm. - Prepare terrain nearby for drop zone. -You can call rescue again One person stands with arms up, to signal location to helicopter. NEED RESCUE? YES NO Rescue team are coming. Who are they? Ski patrols operate in and nearby ski areas. In France National Rescue Gendarmes ( the blue helicopter) or Civil Security ( it is yellow and red). Rescue officers (PGHM (national mountain rescue team), CRS ( special police force), Civil Security, rescue organisations, detector dog-handlers) and the mountain medical team specialist if necessary.

20 It is so easy to join and follow a bunch of friends and tracks just like that It is hard to resist because the weather is beautiful, the mountain looks great, it feels good and it is so much fun But life is all about staying ALIVE! Maison de la Montagne, 190 place de l église Chamonix Tel : / La Chamoniarde

Snow Avalanches. Basic Principles for Avoiding and Surviving Snow Avalanches. By Lance Young

Snow Avalanches. Basic Principles for Avoiding and Surviving Snow Avalanches. By Lance Young Snow Avalanches Basic Principles for Avoiding and Surviving Snow Avalanches By Lance Young Introduction Snow avalanches are complex natural phenomena, experts do not fully understand all their causes.