Freeriding Assessing the avalanche risk better bfu Swiss Council for Accident Prevention
A wonderful, sunny day. Familiar with the terrain, conditions checked, emergency equipment on board and fit and ready for sport. Nevertheless, caution should also be an element when going off-piste: Avalanche danger means life in danger!
The white danger A large number of winter sports enthusiasts are in search of off-piste adventure, which puts them at risk. Avalanches are life-threatening: every year, 25 people lose their lives to avalanches in Switzerland, 90% of them trigger the avalanche themselves. An avalanche accident should therefore not happen in the first place. bfu recommends that freeriders obtain information on the risk of avalanches, carry the correct protective equipment and proceed with the right amount of caution as the situation demands. If in doubt, stay on the marked piste. Factors on how avalanches are created Avalanches can develop when several natural factors interact. Terrain: Avalanches can start on slopes with a gradient as little as 30, with the danger of an avalanche increasing with the gradient of the slope. An avalanche is more likely on a shady slope than on a sunny one. Fresh snow and wind: The more snow has fallen, the higher the risk of an avalanche. The wind may additionally deposit snow on lee slopes. Dangerous accumulations of wind-driven snow are created, which are often indicated by snow cornices on mountain ridges. Temperature: Rising temperatures temporarily reduce the strength of the snow cover and increase the risk; however, they support the favourable consolidation of the snow cover and have a stabilizing effect in the longer term. With an increase in temperature and sunshine in spring, the risk of avalanches increases during the course of the day. People: Most slab avalanches are caused by the additional weight of just one snowsports enthusiast. Your behaviour can thus either increase or reduce the risk of an avalanche. Deposit of wind-driven snow: risk of slab avalanche Slab avalanche: Within a few seconds, an entire layer of snow slides down at once.
Maximize info, minimize risk Important rules of thumb The first fine day after a snowfall is particularly critical. Fresh snow and wind mean an increased risk of avalanche. Together with wind, fresh snow of 10 20 cm may lead to a significant increase in the likelihood of an avalanche. The steeper and shadier the slope, the more dangerous it is. The typical avalanche slope is also close to the ridge and has fresh accumulations of wind-driven snow. Recently released avalanches and whoomph noises signal an increased risk of avalanche. Rapid and noticeable warming leads to a rise in avalanche risk in the short term. Avalanche bulletin The Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) in Davos assesses avalanche risks on a daily basis in winter with a classification scale of the 5 degrees of danger used throughout Europe. The national avalanche bulletin covers all regions of the Swiss Alps. The bulletin can be obtained after 5.00 p.m.: www.slf.ch, tel. 187 (CHF 0.50/call + 0.50/min.), fax 0900 59 20 21 (CHF 1.49/min.), Teletext SF page 782 or wap.slf.ch. Regional avalanche bulletins are issued daily in chart form for most of the regions. They are available after 8.00 a.m. on the Internet: www.slf.ch, by fax 0900 59 20 20 (CHF 1.49/min.) or wap.slf.ch. With the bfu map, you have the sources of information at your fingertips.
Local avalanche warning signs In the skiing areas, those responsible for the local piste and rescue services assess the risk of avalanches. They close off dangerous pistes, itineraries and snowsport trails and mark the start of the off-piste, unsecured areas. Watch out for the avalanche warning signs and the flashing warning lights (danger level 3 and above in off-piste areas) as well as the freeride checkpoints in some areas. Achtung Attention Attenzione Hier keine markierte und kontrollierte Abfahrt Ici pas de descente balisée et contrôlée Qui nessuna discesa demarcata ne controllata Here no marked and controlled run This sign shows the start of an off-piste and unpatrolled area. Freies Gelände Domaine non contrôlé Zona non controllata Off piste areas Lawinengefahr Danger d avalanches Pericolo di valanghe Danger of avalanches Warning if there is considerable or greater risk of avalanche (danger level 3). gesperrt barré chiuso closed Under no circumstances must closed pistes, itineraries and snowsport trails be used.
Less risk, more fun Safer Six rules These rules should be followed no matter how great the risk of avalanche: Get information on the weather and avalanche situation. Continuously assess conditions, the terrain and the people concerned. Set the avalanche beacon to transmit ; carry an avalanche shovel and an avalanche probe. Avoid fresh accumulations of wind-driven snow. Go into key areas and onto extremely steep slopes one at a time. Pay attention to warming during the course of the day. Material check Minimum equipment should comprise an avalanche beacon, avalanche shovel and probe. Other emergency systems (e.g. avalanche airbag) are recommended. Emergency equipment is no protection against avalanche accidents and can, at most, increase your chance of survival. Your rucksack should also contain climbing aids, first-aid kit, mobile phone, orientation aids as well as protection against sun and cold. Free-riding and touring demand caution and experience. Get professional training.
In an emergency How to react to an avalanche accident If they are eye-witnesses of an avalanche accident, all snowsport participants can save lives if they act correctly. The probability of being found alive decreases drastically after just 15 minutes. Only half of the victims who are completely buried will survive an avalanche accident. Every minute counts. You should therefore act quickly and cautiously, following this procedure: Gain an overview, assess the situation and act without putting your own safety at risk or causing secondary accidents. If possible without any loss of time: Alert the Swiss Air Rescue Rega (tel. 1414) or the KWRO in Valais (tel. 144) or the nearest ski lift or funicular station. Use your eyes and ears to search the avalanche area below where the buried persons disappeared and start searching immediately with the rescue beacon (switch off any beacons not needed). Free the head and chest of any buried people found and start life-saving emergency measures. Protect an accident victim from losing body heat. If you have not already done so, raise the alarm now. The 3 most important tips If you have little experience, stay on the marked pistes or join a group with a professional guide if there is considerable danger of an avalanche (level 3). Get training, obtain the necessary information on the weather and avalanche situation and carry emergency equipment. Never travel alone and only when visibility is good. Do not follow any tracks previously left by others that lead into an unknown area.
Live safely: your bfu. 3.028.08 10.2008 bfu is committed to safety by public appointment. As the Swiss Competence Centre for Accident Prevention it conducts research in the sectors road traffic, sport, home and leisure and passes on its knowledge to individuals and specialist circles by means of advisory services, training sessions and communications. More about accident prevention at www.bfu.ch. Further information We also recommend the following brochures: Avalanches. Danger! (can be obtained directly from the SLF) 3.001 Tobogganing * 3.002 Skiing and Snowboarding 3.009 Swimming, diving, inflatables * 3.010 Hiking * 3.018 Cycling * 3.020 Mountainbiking * *only in German These brochures or publications on other topics can be obtained free of charge or downloaded as *.pdf files: www.bfu.ch. Partners: Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Davos Swiss Alpine Rescue (ARS), Federal Office of Sports Magglingen (FOSPO), Center of Excellence in Army Mountain Training (Cen exce A mtn tng), MeteoSwiss, Friends of Nature Switzerland (FNS), Swiss Alpine Club SAC, Association of Swiss Mountain Guides (ASMG), Swiss Commission for the Prevention of Accidents on Snowsport Runs (SKUS), Swiss Air Rescue (Rega), Swiss Ski Federation (Swiss-Ski), Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund (Suva), Swiss Snowboard Association of Instruction and Training (SSBS), Swiss Cableways (SCW), SWISS SNOWSPORTS, Swiss Association of the Mountaineering Schools (SAMS) With the kind support of the Adelboden snowsports region bfu 2008, may be reproduced if source is stated bfu Swiss Council for Accident Prevention, P.O. Box 8236, CH-3001 Berne Tel. +41 31 390 22 22, Fax +41 31 390 22 30, info@bfu.ch, www.bfu.ch
Scale of avalanche danger Danger level 1 low 2 moderate Comments and recommendations for off-piste areas Generally favourable conditions. Go onto extremely steep slopes one at a time! Avoid fresh accumulations of wind-driven snow on the steepest slopes if possible! Be aware of the danger of falls! Mostly favourable conditions. Avoid all extremely steep slopes of the aspect and altitude indicated in the bulletin as well as fresh accumulations of wind-driven snow! Go onto very steep slopes carefully and one at a time! 3 considerable Partly unfavourable conditions. Experience in avalanche danger assessment required! Inexperienced people must stay on-piste or join a group with a professional guide! Avoid very steep slopes! 4 high Unfavourable conditions. Confine activity to moderately steep terrain; avoid steep slopes! Keep away from avalanche path runouts (remote releases, spontaneous avalanches)! Use of the piste is recommended. 5 very high Very unfavourable conditions. Avoid this terrain. Confine activity to marked, open runs under all circumstances! Steep slopes >30, very steep slopes >35, extremely steep slopes >40
Avalanches. Danger! National avalanche bulletin Information on the snow situation, forecast of avalanche danger: www.slf.ch Tel. 187 (CHF 0.50/call + 0.50/min.) Fax 0900 59 20 21(CHF 1.49/min.) Teletext SF page 782 WAP: wap.slf.ch Updated daily in winter and spring and the forecast for the following day is available after 5.00 p.m. Further sources of information Current weather report: www.meteoswiss.ch, tel. 162 (CHF 0.50/call + 0.50/min.) Alpine weather report: tel. 0900 162 311 (CHF 1.20/min.) Avalanche situation in neighbouring countries: www.avalanches.org Freeride checkpoint and avalanche warning signs in the area Regional avalanche bulletins www.slf.ch Tel. 187 Fax 0900 59 20 + region no. according to map (CHF 1.49/min.) WAP: wap.slf.ch Updated daily in winter and spring, available from 8.00 a.m. Partner: Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research 32 Regional subdivision östlicher Alpennordhang Appenzellerzentraler St.Galler Alpen 37 Zentralschweiz Glarner Alpen westlicher Urner31 Nordbünden Alpen 36 34 Unter- Gotthardgebiet Mittelbünden Berner Oberland Engadin Waadtl. östl. westl. Ober- 35 Freiburg. 33 Alpensüdhang Alpen Ober- Wallis Unter- Alpnau e h pk t amm Tessin bfu Swiss Council for Accident Prevention, P.O. Box 8236, CH-3001 Berne Tel. +41 31 390 22 22, Fax +41 31 390 22 30, info@bfu.ch, www.bfu.ch