This season
marks the most unstable snowpack in 15 years meaning that even the most
experienced and qualified of guides are gambling when it comes to taking both
themselves, and their clients, outside the safety zones. The desire for
individuals to explore the sensational and unrivalled delights of the
backcountry is prolific yet this season, when over 20 skiers and snowboarders
have already died in Europe, it is time to really consider whether making fresh
tracks this season is worth the risk of never being able to make them again. It
is not just naïve amateurs who are becoming victims to unforgiving avalanches;
three of the victims were completing an intensive technical course with a
highly recommended guide in Switzerland when they swept to their deaths. What
they were learning? Avalanche safety.
The cruel
irony of this situation as just one example goes to show the unpredictability
of the mountains and their tragic ability to snatch lives away in an instant.
Even those equipped with all the safety gear are still at risk; ABS airbags are
designed to deploy and pull you out of an avalanche when you pull the release
but even these are only effective in a very exact moment of crisis. If you
really can’t resist the risk, it is advisable at the very least to be properly
equipped with a transceiver, probe, shovel and mobile phone, or to invest in an
ABS airbag. Seeking the advice and guidance of a professional is also
recommended but it is important to remember that even he is not invincible.
What do I
need?
Transceiver: If caught in an avalanche there is no time to spare and your minutes are
numbered as survival rates drop rapidly after 15 minutes of snow submersion. A
transceiver both emits and receives a signal that can be picked up by other
transceivers which means that if you are wearing one, the rest of your group
can find you quickly.
Probe: A probe goes hand in
hand with a transceiver as once you’ve located their signal, you can use a
probe to locate the buried individual. It easily penetrates even compact snow
and comes in different weights and lengths.
Shovel: You’ve located your friend with the transceiver, you’ve found them with
the probe…now you need to get them out as quickly as possible and nothing works
faster when it comes to digging than a shovel. They are designed to be light,
compact and often fold up to fit into backpacks.
ABS: Avalanche airbags are a
serious investment but are recognised to significantly improve the chances of
survival as they keep you above an avalanche rather than under it…they inflate
when you pull the release and since large things rise while smaller ones sink,
you are lifted to safety. You can buy a backpack – or an ABS system – which
comes complete with two airbags and all the technology.
Finally, if
you’re planning a ski holiday at this time of year, particularly when the
weather is warming up and conditions could become even more dangerous, make
sure you’ve got a comprehensive and stable insurance policy in place. The lives
of over 20 skiers and snowboarders have been taken and the same number again
has been seriously injured in avalanches alone. We offer a range of winter
sports insurance policies from skiing, to heli-skiing, to back-country skiing.
Follow the link below to find out more information and get a quote today:
