The question

Isn’t that dangerous?

AVALANCHE SAFETY

All of the BACKDROP team have had a personal heart-stopping epiphany with avalanches. Fortunately, we’ve all come through unscathed, but we all now have a respect for the mountains which wasn’t so ever-present in our youth, plus a deep understanding of the reliance and faith we have to put in each other, especially when on an expedition, to keep safe and live to ride another day.

Slackcountry -riding off pistes from a lift – has a large risk, but Splitboarding really ratchets up the danger levels, as you’re not just descending but choosing a route up too, often far from help. Avalanches, cliff band, terrain traps, rivers, rocks, hypothermia, evacuation, escape routes… the list of things to consider is almost endless.

But worry ye not, as the BACKDROP team is here with some words of wisdom, five bullet points to literally live by, a kit list, and some advice on where to gain knowledge. But remember; the mountain and the snowpack take no prisoners and many a so-called avalanche expert has been buried or swept away.

The best tool to avoid avalanches is your brain, so don’t be a tool and get educated. Take a course, read anything and everything you can find on avalanche safety, become obsessed with stats, weather, snowpack, maps, kit, basically glen as much knowledge as you can and keep on going, there’s always more to know.

Read

If you only ever read one book make it ‘How to Stay Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper’, it’s the go-to bible of all thing’s backcountry. Bruce worked as the director of the Utah Avalanche Service for most of his adult life, and his knowledge and layman’s explanations make his book essential reading for anyone going off piste.

Avalanche Courses

There is no substitute for taking an on-mountain course. Most courses will have time on the slopes looking at snow science, terrain/group management and vitally rescue procedures and techniques. Mountain time will be supported by classroom case studies and q+a’s.

Europe

Avalanche Geeks run a series of courses from basic good practises all the way through to ski mountaineering.

Avalanche academy run courses out of Chamonix

USA

If you’re looking for a real adventure, then the Silverton Avalanche School run recreational and professional courses in the legendary powder of the San Juan Mountain range in southwest Colorado.

CANADA

For an authoritative list of providers of the excellent Canadian system please see link attached

APPS

FATMAP is a great app to aid route finding, follow link for a BACKDROP 20% discount.

WEATHER AND AVALANCHE FORECASTS

Whiterisk covers Switzerland

Meteo Ski for France

Varsom Regobs for Norway

Meteo Swiss for Switzerland

YR for worldwide weather forecasts

AnglePro for measuring slope angles

FIVE GOLDEN RULES FOR THE DESCENT.

Leave someone in a safe spot to perform a rescue.

Never cross above others.

Always have an escape route in mind.

Don’t go first! (yes we know someone has to)

Tell someone where you’re going and what time your due back.

And number 6 - Tell anyone who isn’t riding with all the correct safety kit to Bugger Off! and come back when they have a little more respect for your life, and their own.’