It’s a sensitive subject. For the victims above all: mourning a death in an avalanche is simply unbearable. The death of a 14-year-old teenager in Les Arcs on 25 December, that of Swiss snowboarder Sophie Rédiger two days earlier, and the more recent death of an off-piste skier at La Norma, all made headlines in the general press. It’s as if the contrast with the almost obligatory joy of the festive season reinforced the emphasis.
The avalanche that claimed the life of a skier in a valley accessible from french ski resort La Norma. ©PGHM Savoie
But the reality is cruel. The the french national snow and avalanche association (ANENA) statistics show that an average of thirty avalanche victims die every year in France. And this rises to more than 50 deaths in the worst years. For its part, data-avalanche.org already lists 84 avalanches of all types and sizes at the start of the season. The point here is not to minimise the terrible shockwave that such accidents represent, just to understand them properly. Even within the editorial team of a mountain magazine, the pleasure of entering winter is also tinged with apprehension, in anticipation of the avalanches to come.
So how can you continue to ski off-piste, on the outskirts of ski areas or ski touring, with the cold statistics in mind? Can you really get through the winter without asking the almost shameful question: who’s next? Someone you know? A friend? A friend?
it is essential to be trained
and to be informed
Ever since Messner, we’ve known that the mountains aren’t just or unfair, they’re dangerous. This is particularly true when it comes to avalanches, which affect both amateur and experienced skiers, mountain guides and resort tourists alike. So what can be done to avoid them? Can we one day hope for zero deaths in the mountains, as the public authorities hope every year? It’s highly unlikely, given that there is no such thing as zero risk.
But we can’t stress enough the importance of training (avalanche victim search, snow conditions, meteorology, use of an airbag, etc.) and information (avalanche risk assessment bulletin, wind, slope map, team or rope organisation).
And given the absence of avalanche transceivers in most of the latest victims, it’s also worth remembering that it’s essential to bring one. While the Recco reflection system allows you to be detected by trackers or rescuers, it is of no use to your skiing companions, who are the first people to be able to pull you out of a burrow. Only an avalanche transceiver can help find you in time. Remember too that after the first 15 minutes under the snow, your chances of survival plummet.
the best way to get out of an avalanche
is not to trigger it
Finally, the best way to get out of an avalanche is not to trigger it. Nobody is immune, but by combining all the preventive measures, the risk can be significantly reduced.
I apologise for these reminders, which may seem a bit clichéd. It’s just that if for once we have to hit a few open doors to keep our readers, then I’m going straight for it.
Take care.