Ski touring and safety - Ski touring - Oisans, the legendary Alps

Some basic advice given by ANENA: National Association for the Study of Snow and Avalanches.

National Association
for the study of Snow and Avalanches

Even if it responds to the desire to be in the mountains, to confront the natural elements, A ski touring outing should not be improvised.
Have a plan, or rather plans, prepared upstream, on which we can rely in order to adapt on the ground then deciding, is an almost vital necessity.

La 3×3 method (initially developed by Werner Munter) remains a valuable tool to aid decision-making, preparation, during the outing and when faced with each potentially avalanche-prone slope.
She forces the group to reason, and not just obey his unconscious, on the three factors of the avalanche : the group with which we ski, the snow and weather conditions of the moment and the terrain on which one wishes to engage. This implies moments ofobservation,analysis, decision, abstract andaction.
Ultimately, that of this program is vast to successfully complete a ski trip in the mountains, that of returning home with all your friends and family, intact, in the evening. Here are some essential elements for carrying out a ski touring outing as well as possible.

Basic rules in potentially avalanche terrain

Know your group

The different personalities (technical level, physical, profile and personality traits, etc.) of the group with which we share a hike must truly determine the choice of output (routes A and plan B or even C). This must be adapted to their experience, their skills, their desires… and their risk tolerance threshold.

Taking advantage of the Avalanche Risk Assessment Bulletin

The BERA, published daily by Météo-France during the winter, allows you to know the avalanche risk forecast on each alpine massif or Pyrenean. Combined with the group's own local snow and weather knowledge, and that collected by the network or on the Internet, the information taken from BERA makes it possible toimagine the snow conditions of the outing and the associated risks. Beyond the level of avalanche risk alone, it is necessary, on the one hand, to identify sectors announced as the most at risk (orientation, altitude, specific locations (near ridges, passes, far from ridges, etc.)). On the other hand, we must note the snow elements which can be observed on the ground (thickness of fresh snow, wind indicators, humidification, presence of fragile layers, etc.) and which will make it possible to validate (or not) the choices of the preparation. From the outset, certain slopes, certain sectors, certain orientations, etc., can, from the preparation, be ruled out.

Choose goals that are appropriate for the group and conditions

Le choosing a goal exit must be done after analysis of the snow and weather conditions and constitution of the group. It is only in this sense, from the topographic map, that we can imagine the routes which will meet both the aspirations of the group and the snow requirements of the moment. The construction of the route on the map must be done with safety and pleasure in mind... Plan A, B (or even C) must subsequently be communicated and validated by the group.

Adapting to real conditions

The moment of departure is an opportunity to reaffirm the objective of the day, give general instructions for progression and rules of behavior… and check equipment of each. The DVA, probes and skin have to be worn by all members of the group. Everyone must know how to use these rescue tools : search for a victim buried under an avalanche, locate them, free them and provide first aid. This requires being trained and trained. On the ground, the key word is "adaptation". In the parking lot, at the start of the hike and throughout the outing, the game consists of constantly check whether the conditions of the moment (the group, the weather and snow conditions, the terrain) correspond to what was initially planned and readjust the choices accordingly: 20 cm of additional snow to what was planned? We move on to plan B, for example.

Reasoning in the face of a slope

Snow slab avalanches dry, that is to say those responsible for more than 90% of deaths, are triggered by the victims or their group (sometimes by third parties) on slopes inclined at more than 30°. When faced with these slopes, that is to say each time that one has to climb them, descend them, cross them or even pass at their foot, it is imperative to be vigilant... and to pause to think : to the snow conditions on the slope (rather stable or rather unstable?), to the state of the group and its behavior (exhausted or in good shape?, listening or elsewhere?, etc.), to the possibilities of crossing, avoiding or giving up. This break is really necessary: it allows us to use our energy to to work the conscious part, reasoning, of our brain. Not doing so is exposing ourselves to letting our unconscious part, a source of bias with often damaging consequences in an environment subject to uncertainty, decide for us! It is also once again the time to communicate options and choices with the group, give travel instructions and rules of behavior. This reasoning can be supported by a tool to aid decision (Nivotest, vigilance method, reduction method, Avaluator… These tools have the advantage of objectifying the decision, of framing it and of leaving less room for our unconscious and its sometimes catastrophic dictates.

Opt for a few saving rules

Be vigilant and force yourself to reason
when :

The slope we are approaching is greater than 30°.
Personalized ground traps threaten and could worsen the consequences of an avalanche, even a small one: rock bar, ravine, thalweg, river, lake, crevasse, trees, etc.
La amount of fresh snow reaches a critical threshold: 20 cm when conditions are unfavorable (strong wind, smooth or soft surface, slopes with little skiing, cold then hot), more in favorable conditions.
Le vent carries or has recently carried snow.
La snow is moistened in depth.
Personalized fragile layers, persistent, are present in the snowpack.
Avalanches, spontaneous or provoked, are observed on the ground, as well as any collapse noise (whoumfs) or fissure in the snow cover.

Adopt behavioral rules
simple:

Communicate actively explore options, choices and travel strategies with his group… and ensure that he has understood the instructions.
Take some distance in or under slopes of more than 30° inclination, or pass one by one whenever possible.
Evolve fromSafety islands in safety islands.
Do not linger on the slopes or at their feet.
borner the trace.
To renounce or avoid the slope considered potentially avalanche-prone as soon as reasoning leads one to think that the risk (danger and consequences) is present… or that there is doubt.