It can never be stressed enough that off-piste skiing is serious, especially when practiced without good judgment! Yes, skiing is serious because it involves gravity, nature and one's physical capabilities, but the singularity of off-piste skiing is thai it is practiced on an elusive, substance, virgin snow. This substance is a source of great pleasure for freeriders but it is also a constant threat on many slopes. No one is really capable of accurately predicting the behavior of a slope covered in fresh snow: it's possible to scientifically explain why an avalanche happened offer the fact, but it is rarely possible beforehand. when facing a slope loaded with powder, there are only probabilities... This does not however mean that a disastrous event in the mountains is due solely to fate -being in the wrong place at time wrong time is a reality, but there are also manageable factors to be taken into account. Hence, engineers in nivoloqy, shows remarkable clear sightedness when he compares practicing snow sports with using a chair: four legs guarantee a certain stability, but if one is missing your balance can be completely thrown off. These four legs are: fitness, knowledge, experience and lack. The uncertainty of the latter mint be humbly accepted when dealing with snow and must he taken into account when decisions are made. It is the non-manageable part of the "danger" factor. There is no greater danger than the ignorance of danger: Snow Here is a simple calculation to give you an idea of the unpredictable of nature strength. The density of snow a few days after a snowfall that has settled or been slightly packed by the wind is roughly 0.15 to 0.3, or 150 to 300 kg per cubic meter. A slope 100 m wide and 100 m long (a small hectare in the immensity of the mountains] covered by a meter of snow supports 10,000 m3 of this noble substance, which represents 1500 to 3000 tons. Schematically, we can say that there are two types of snow: Wet snow is saturated with water (thaw or mini and generates heavy avalanches that flow with the same weight and devastating force as lava (only colder). These avalanches are rarely set off by skiers who are not attracted to this type of ''leg-breaking" snow. Dry snow, on the other hand, is light and much more appearing and therefore involved in many more accidents. Crystallisation, Inter-flake bonding, the elements (wind, temperature, humidity], the forming and cohesion of the layers of snow and the evolution of the crystal grains ail determine the make-up and the stratification of the snow-pack affect; its stability, which evolves over time. (The Inuit language has many words to describe snow with all its different aspects). this short summary only gives a glimpse into the complexity of the stability of a snow-covered slope, Equipment It is essential to have the proper equipment when venturing off-piste. Regardless of the announced or estimated risk and the planned route, you will need an avalanche rescue beacon (ARB), a shove! and a probe pole at the very least in terms of equipment. * An ARB (Avalanche Rescue Beacon) emits a signal (457 kHz) and this signal can be received by another ARB on the some frequency by switching from emission to receiving mode. It remains the most effective system for locating an avalanche victim. It is important to practice using an ARB to be able to be effective during a search operation victim's. A probe pole allows you to determine the victim's exact location and the depth at which they are buried. * A shovel is essential for digging out a victim. Those of you who aren't convinced of this should try digging a hole on an avalanche site with your ski. You'll quickly understand the Irony of locating a victim with your beacon in a matter of minutes The ABS : this invention is doubtless one of the most interesting ones that has ever been made in avalanche safety. II works with the properties of an avalanche, which is in fact a furious torrent when in motion. By pulling on a handle, the victim triggers the inflation of two floaters with a total volume of 150 liters of air that allows him/her to remain on the surface of the avalanche until it stops. Of course, being equipped with an airbag doesn't mean that you can dispense with the ARB, shovel and probe, if only to rescue your friends who don't have one.
SNOW & AVALANCHE
ABS AIRBAG
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