A recent post and some other events lately have got me concerned that there are people coming to Switzerland buy a set of ski's or snowboard and think that they are ready to go ride off piste. Peoples awareness of what off piste involves seems to be very varied and in some cases their knowledge of the safety requirements are non-existent. This thread will aim to give some information towards what you need to know before you leave the marked pistes.

Disclaimer
This post is not a replacement for an avalanche course, I am not a mountain guide and have no qualifications of any sort in back country or off piste safety. If you are going off piste you need to learn as much as possible the aim of this post is to encourage you to go and learn more not to take anything posted here as gospel.

Definitions: (as I see them and used here)

Off Piste: Off the marked and prepared ski areas in a resort. This includes marked "freeride" runs which some resorts now feature.

Out of Bounds: Riding away from a resort, ducking under the yellow and black ropes at a resort, or riding areas of a resort that are not indicated on any piste map.

Freeriding: Riding off Piste or Out of Bounds where the emphasis is on riding down. The lifts are used as much as possible and any uphill walking or skiing is kept to a minimum.

Touring: Riding off piste or out of bounds where nearly as much emphasis is based on going uphill as going down. Ski/Snowboard touring is as much about the journey as it is about the actual skiing.

Avalanches:
Avalanches are a major concern if you ride off piste. Even riding beside the piste in ski areas can have fatal consequences if you do not take conditions into account. In winter 2007/2008 there were two incidents where a child was killed riding just beside a piste in Davos, the Avalanche that killed her ran across the piste and endangered people who were riding on piste. A skier on the piste was killed in a similar incident in Wallis when another avalanche crossed the piste.

An avalanche occurs when a layer of snow looses its grip on the layer or ground underneath. In fresh snowfalls there can be powder avalanches when freshly fallen powder which has not yet bonded to the underlying snow layer slides down the mountain. As time progresses the loose powder compacts and becomes a heavier slab. Slab avalanches occur when a "snowboard" or slab releases and slides down the mountain. Slab avalanches are probably the more dangerous but all avalanche types can be dangerous.

The avalanche risk increases after any new snowfall, after wind has created new snowdrift formations, or when the suns radiation causes the snowpack to warm up to a point where it becomes unstable. Even a stable snowpack which has had a long time to settle can have weak layers in it and may slide when an additional load is placed on it.

Avalanche Risk Levels in Europe

1: Gering (Low) Natural avalanches very unlikely. Human triggered avalanches unlikely. Generally stable snow. Isolated areas of instability.
2: Mässig (Moderate) Natural avalanches unlikely. Human triggered avalanches possible. Unstable slabs possible on steep terrain. Use caution on steeper terrain with certain aspects (defined in avalanche bulletin).
3: Erheblich (Considerable) Natural avalanches possible. Human triggered avalanches probable. Unstable slabs probable on steep terrain. Be increasingly cautious on steeper terrain.
4: Gross (High) Natural and human triggered avalanches are likely. Unstable slabs likely on a variety of aspects and slope angles. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.
5: Sehr Gross (Very High) Widespread natural or human triggered avalanches are certain.

Moderately steep slopes: slopes with an inclination of less then 30 degrees.
Steep slopes: Slopes steeper then 30 degrees.

The Avalanche Bulletin
The avalanche bulletin can be got each day at around 5pm from www.slf.ch There is a written avalanche report and a hazard map showing the risk levels through out Switzerland.

The regional avalanche bulletin is only available in German and is issued at about 8am on the day it is for.

When planning your day off piste you can use the Hazard map and national bulletin to choose your routes. The routes should be assessed again in the morning when the regional bulletin is released. Most resorts have "Freeride Checkpoints" where the post the regional avalanche bulletin.


What do I need to go off piste?
Generally if you are riding in avalanche terrain you need as a minimum the following equipment.

• Avalanche Transceiver
• Shovel
• Avalanche Probe
• First aid kit
• Means to summon help
• Suitable Map

Having the equipment is only part of the equation. It all needs to be operational and every member of the group needs to know how to use it. If you ride alone the safety equipment is close to useless!

There is an 80%+ survival rate for people who are buried in avalanches that can be found in under 15 minutes. 90%+ if found in under 10 minutes. The chances of survival drop exponentially after 15 minutes. If someone is buried rescue by the group is the only realistic chance of survival. This is why it is essential that you never travel in avalanche terrain alone, and that you know exactly what to do in a real life situation.

Minimising Avalanche Risk:
The 3x3 method and reduction method are two tools which have been developed to reduce the risk for those travelling in avalanche terrain. The 3x3 or filter method involves you creating a filter to avoid the chances of you travelling in an area where the risk is too high.

The first level of the filter takes in regional information, the second level takes in local information and the last part takes in Zone information. Some more information on the 3x3 method can be found here.

When you have decided that it is safe to go with the filter method then the reduction method is aimed to further reduce the remaining risk.

The reduction method is based on the following formula.

Acceptable remaining risk = danger potential/(product of safety measures).

The outcome of this formula should be <1.

Some further information and explanation of the danger potential and safety measures of the reduction method can be found here.

As the avalanche danger level goes up 1 point on the scale, the danger level doubles!!! If Level 1 has a danger level of 2, Level 2 has a danger level of 4, Level 3 has a danger level of 8 and Level 4 has a danger level of 16!!!!!

When using these rules you should always err on the side of caution. In avalanche danger 3 you need to consider the whole slope not just the area you are riding.

Route Planning
If you are going off piste, a piste map is not any use to you. You need a proper survey map with a scale of 1:25,000. In Switzerland these can be got from any good bookshop our outdoor store. For season 2008/2009 a new map has become available for some areas. This freeride map shows some of the better know freeride areas in the featured resorts. They grade the difficulty level of the terrain and give some suggested routes. The maps are not a substitute for knowledge, you need to be able to spot safe routes for the avalanche risk level when you are in the area. To do this you need to know how to measure the slope angle off the map. This is only possible with the 1:25,000 scale maps. There is a card available from any good mountain sports shop which allows you to measure the slope angle from the 1:25,000 maps. If you are using this card remember to add one degree to the reading you measure.

There are also 1:50,000 ski tour maps available. These maps are good for a general overview of a route, but may not be of high enough resolution to navigate effectively. The slope measurement card will not work with these maps but slopes of over 30 degrees are highlighted in red and should be avoided at critical avalanche risk levels.

When planning your route always make sure to measure the steepest slope you expect to travel on. At avalanche risk of 3 and above you must also measure the steepest area in the whole region you are in. Remember an avalanche which releases above you can travel down the mountain to you, or remotely trigger a slide where you are.

Slope Exposure
The avalanche bulletin will mention slopes exposures that are particularly dangerous on a given day. In general in mid winter the northern half of the compass West through North to East is the most dangerous. This is because these slopes get less sun with the sun low in the sky and reduces the settling possible in the snowpack. In spring this reverses and the southern half of the compass is more dangerous. Rapid heating of the snowpack during the day cause weaknesses in the snowpack and wet snow avalanches occer. In spring you need to be off the mountain before the snow has time to warm up, riding off piste after midday carries extreme risk.

But there are tracks there!
Just because you see tracks go somewhere ahead of you does not mean it is safe. These tracks may ride straight off a cliff, or the people before you may have been lucky enough not to ride over a trigger point in the snow. If a slope is tracked enough for it to be totally avalanche safe then it is probably not fun to ride anymore!

But I'm in the trees!
For trees to provide safety from an avalanche they need to be so close together that you can't ride in them.

Is Switzerland more dangerous then other countries for Freeriding/Touring?
Yes, Switzerland is more dangerous then many areas in the US and the Pyrenees. Switzerland is further inland then many resorts in other areas in Europe and the states. Therefore there is less of a salt content in the snow meaning a drier snowfall. This snow does not adhere to itself as well as the snow that falls in maritime areas meaning less stability in the snowpack. We also get less snowfall annually here then in many other areas. This leads to a thinner snowpack which has a higher temperature difference between the top and bottom of the snowpack and less pressure compressing the lower layers in the snow. These factors can allow for more weak layers in the snow where a slide can trigger. Just because you see guys in videos riding super steep slopes it does not mean it is safe for you to do it here in Switzerland.

Avalanche Safety Courses
Many mountain guide companies throughout Switzerland run avalanche safety courses during the winter months. These courses offer a good way of getting some basic knowledge in a supervised setting. Anyone planning on going off piste (even in ski areas) should take one of these courses.

Guided Freeride/Touring
If you are just starting to get into off piste skiing or snowboarding hiring a guide for a day is a good idea. The guides will plan as safe a route as possible for you and do their best to try to keep you out of trouble.


Further Reading
The Powder Guide, Tobias Kurzeder and Holger Feist
3x3, Werner Munter

White Risk interactive avalanche DVD

SLF record of fatal avalanche accidents.
SLF publications in English
Recommended publicatons from SLF

Avalanche Safety Statitics (German only)
New Trends of recreational avalanche accidents in Switzerland, Paper.


Once again, I am not a guide or am not qualified in any way to give avalanche training. I have undergone a couple of avalanche safety courses and attended some sessions on tour planning. I have also read any pieces of information in English or German that I could get on European avalanche risk. Do not take my word for the truth. Perform your own research, do some courses and learn how to be safe in the mountains.

If you find any mistakes or omissions in this post then let me know and I can edit it.

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This message is a natural product. The variations in spelling and grammar enhance it's individual character. (Ski/Snowboard/Mountain Bike in CH)

Can I dare to ask, why is that people want to do that then ?

It is just the risk ( deadhead ) factor ? Or is there something really so irresistible off-piste that leads you to risk your life to do it ?

Because a powder-session is even millions better than...


Very good Eire that you make people aware of the risks - excellent advices.

You miss the point. What I am trying to get at is to stop people risking their lives. People go off the marked areas all the time, many of them without any idea what they are doing. This post is to raise awareness of that and encourage people to get the necessary training before doing it.

I am not going to get into my reasons for going off piste, that is my business and I am not going to be the one to encourage anyone to do so unless it is something they choose they want to do. It is for similar reasons that you will never see me post a powder day on any forum. If you go off piste you accept and minimise the risk to a level you are happy to live with.

Rest assured, for me I do not like to accept a lot of risk, I am not an expert or "daredevil" as you like to imply. My main concerns when planning a route is to not get myself into situations that I do not have the technical skills to deal with and to avoid the possibility of encountering avalanches as much as possible. Anyone who goes with me must look at the route and choose for themselves if they believe the route is safe. Everyone has to have the responsibility for their own safety.

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This message is a natural product. The variations in spelling and grammar enhance it's individual character. (Ski/Snowboard/Mountain Bike in CH)

It's horses for courses, some people like staying within their comfort zone, some like to challenge themselves to progress.... some need are reckless and need medication.

I take Eire's very informative post to mean, which ever category fits you... always be properly prepared and equipped, especially if your going off piste.

The drugs don't work!

Great lot of info researched, Eire. I have the Swiss colleague at work who only skis off-piste and it is the only type of slopes that he entertains. He is mountaineer and rock climber as well. He is very experienced and as he says he grew up on the rock, but he wouldn't recommend to anyone without special training and preparations to go off-piste as well. Especially considering the fact that the snow slabs are less stable in this region of the world due to the fact that there is no salt and it doesnt keep the snow compact, thus increasing the risk of avalanche. This is anyone's personal decision involving risk people want to undertake. Personally, I wouldnt see the reason to risk life while going ride off-piste. Especially because there is so many awesome resorts here and riding on-piste involves enough challanges. At the same time one can admire the off-piste slopes on the sides (by simply looking at them without necessity to ride on them).

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Having cooled down in snowy CH, I miss sunny SA again!

I only use "Red-bull" alike energy drinks everytime I go to the resort. (They impact on health is another topic). Last week I had two cans and I felt like exploding my energy on the piste. It gives you guts

The adrenaline and the endorphines are not enough strong drugs ?

Because there comes a point when even hard black runs do not really challenge you. I got bored with skiing a few years ago because I could do everything on piste. Skiing off-piste is a completely new challenge, and there is nothing quite so satisfying as making beautiful tracks in fresh powder. I am now trying to improve my off-piste skiing and also just starting to do some ski touring, where you can get away from the masses completely and go and see some real mountains as they are supposed to be.

Having said that, I have no intention of killing myself, and have bought the necessary gear (ARVA, probe, shovel) and understand how to use it, and I've also been on several courses about avalanche safety. I know that I still have lots to learn from the real experts, so will continue to go with guides except in areas where I now understand that the risks are sufficiently low.

I know you are a cyclist, so let me compare skiing to cycling. Cycling on a wide flat road with no traffic is easy and safe, like skiing on-piste. As you get better, most cyclists will want to increase the challenge, so will start cycling up big mountains or cycling on busier roads where they can go faster or try racing or downhill mountain biking. For all these, the risk is much greater than just cycling slowly on a nice wide flat road, but it is more of a challenge, and as long as you accept and understand the risk, it is your choice. The same applies to skiing off-piste. If you ride or ski within your capabilities, then the increased risk will be acceptable to you, and your riding or skiing will be much more rewarding for it.

Ever done Epaule du Charvet in Val d'Isère?

The Swiss mountains is a typical place, I would say, where you see the culture clash between those growing up in "nanny countries" and those in "Eigenverantwortung countries".

Great post Eire, great post. Certainly got me thinking, especially the list of fatal avalanche accidents. I had a very brief look and saw 2 at Flumserberg and 1 at Hoch Y Brig in the last 5 years.

I've never done anything more than get off the chairlift then look down the slopes for a decent path to the bottom, normally in between pistes. I'd say i'm very cautious in this regard, i.e. dont like to go where I cant see how the terrain pans out, hate rocks and don't do any of the couloirs, but I have often had to follow my far braver/stupider boarders* (*delete as applicable) down routes that have been beyond my comfort zone. When I say have to, I generally mean my gf who seems to be far less risk averse than me and is often in front of me. She tends to choose the path that I would prefer to avoid and I cant really leave her to it. Even if it has been dangerous. Yes, we have had plenty of discussions about it, but seeing as we always get down and of course she is always right* (*this is a universal truth), I have a hard time persuading her that I am not just one of these people that worry too much about the what ifs.

So, i've sent her this link & I will book an avalanche course for our next trip or get a local guide. I think it is all about education. We have boarded stack loads over 10 years and thus have a ton of real experience, but forewarned is definitely forearmed. I think you can have so much fun on and off the pistes, best to minimise the danger.

On that basis, is it best to phone up the ski schools on the resort and organise training through them or have you/anyone else got any recommendations?

Cheers

Ski schools don't do avalanche training. It needs to be done by mountain guides.

Check out Eiselin Sport or Rock and Powder, I've done courses with both of them in the past. Most of the mountain guides offices in the major resorts will offer avalanche courses too.

Take the fatalities in context too, riding just beside the piste near the lifts first two lifts in hoch-ybrig is probably safe the vast majority of the time. The fatalities happened on the weglosen abfahrt which is off piste next to where the black piste goes down to the valley. This is a north facing steep slope that gets a lot of snow and wind depositon. Prime avalanche territory.

All of the first off piste rides I did were in Hoch-ybrig but up in the ski area where it gets very tracked over within hours of a snow fall. In general the area is very flat up there and it is a pretty good place for getting to grips with off piste.

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This message is a natural product. The variations in spelling and grammar enhance it's individual character. (Ski/Snowboard/Mountain Bike in CH)

Sorry Shorrick, rereading my post I realise it comes across as somewhat big-headed - not my intention! I am not claiming to be anywhere near an expert downhill skier. I can get down pretty much anything, even if it isn't the prettiest skiing, but my point was that if you only ski on-piste you will eventually get bored. Getting off the piste and away from the hordes opens up a whole new sport really, one which I am looking forward to getting much better at now that I'm in Switzerland and have more time to practice...

Any chance of a translation for those of us in Suisse Romande? Google Translate tells me it means "ownership" but I'm guessing that's not quite the point you were making?

Answerable to yourself.
i.e. instead of legislating for things like in a nanny state you accept responsibility for your own actions.

[quote=Eire;394170]Ski schools don't do avalanche training. It needs to be done by mountain guides.

Check out Eiselin Sport or Rock and Powder, I've done courses with both of them in the past. Most of the mountain guides offices in the major resorts will offer avalanche courses too.

[quote]

I take it that you can always get a guide at the schools to take you round the local terrain off piste though? I've never done that, but it would seem to make a lot of sense too to work out the best paths/routes.

I see from Rock and Powder, the cost is CHF 115 for the day:

http://www.rockandpowder.ch/Lawinenk...winenkurs.html

http://www.rockandpowder.ch/Lawinenkurs/Detailinfos.pdf

I can't see where it is held. Do you contact them and then arrange a meeting place like a resort?

Also, do you always spend time using the formulas above etc calculating where you are going? Is that part of the training?

GS, I agree with what you say about cycling, when the activity you are doing represents no more challenge you'd like to go the the next level.

However, skiing on piste can present much more challenge than what you are currently doing.

In the same analogy. A bike ride on a flat road with no traffic at 20Kmh is pleasant but not challenging, but riding the same flat road with no traffic on a TT bike at 50+kmh represents a completely different challenge, and also you'd be grateful that there is no car traffic involved, so the risk is then minimized.

The same could be said about skiing on piste.

if you come down a blue slope, slowly doing long arcs it would be pleasant but not that challenging, now try to come down the same slope on slalom skis fast and without missing any gate. You'be be grateful then that the slopes are grommed and other risks are outside of the equation.

I can understand the backcountry and exploring skiing though.

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Road and "SuperTouring" bikes for sale

To use a great German word "Jein". Some schools will give lessons on riding off piste. This is aimed at the skills required and will use slopes that are within the ski area and have minimal avalanche risk. This is a lesson on how to ride powder on your ski's or board and not a lesson on avalanche safety.

The guides can teach you avalanche safety, but not necessarily the technique required for you to ride off piste.


I did the course and some powder days with them in Engelberg. Best bet is to contact them and see what they say. If you get enough people together you might be able to organise a private course.

There is a simplified reduction method which I don't have time to look for now that I use pretty much every time. That is if the avalanche risk is 2, I stick to slopes less then 35 degrees, if its 3 I stick to slopes less then 30 degrees. If I go into the grey areas (over 35 degrees in risk level 2, or over 30 degrees in risk level 3) then I use the reduction method along with any other information I have to decide whether to go or not. I am not someone that likes to ride stupidly steep coulours etc so I am normally happy riding areas of about 30 to 35 degrees and just cruising.

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This message is a natural product. The variations in spelling and grammar enhance it's individual character. (Ski/Snowboard/Mountain Bike in CH)