What could be better than skiing to a lonely summit on a cloudless winter's day or making your first turns on an untracked slope? But even the most beautiful playground can conceal many dangers. To make sure you are safe on the mountain, we have summarized the most important points concerning avalanche safety in 10 chapters. Whether you are a first-time avalanche enthusiast or just want to refresh your knowledge, ABS Protection Hub is the right place to go!
Prepare your adventure
The best adventures already begin with the anticipation. First the selection of the actual route, researching the current operations and packing the necessary equipment - preparation is the foundation for every ski tour. Here you will find all the information you need to know before your adventure on the mountain.
If you are out in the mountains in winter, you should also be familiar with avalanches. To do this, you first need to know what types of avalanches exist and how they differ. Also the assessment of the steepness of a slope is an important skill to have. For this reason, you will learn about the different types of avalanches and how to measure the slope inclination.
The five typical avalanche problems have been defined by the Association of European Avalanche Warning Services (EAWS) with the aim of describing typical situations as they occur in the terrain and to support both avalanche warning and winter sports enthusiasts in their assessment of the avalanche danger. They complement the description of the danger level and the danger zones (exposure and altitude).
The avalanche risk patterns are recurring situations or events. The limitation of these risk patterns is primarily based on the comparison of the snowpack structure in combination with the subsequent weather events. In this chapter we explain the 10 risk patterns that can occur over the winter.
Anyone who tours in unsecured terrain should also be familiar with the avalanche report. It provides you with information about the current conditions in the mountains and informs you before each tour about the existing avalanche danger level.
Planning a tour involves many factors that need to be taken into account. For this reason you should allow yourself enough time and inform yourself sufficiently. A good preparation not only increases safety but also pleasure.
When the mountains call, nothing can hold us back. With the first meters up the mountain, also the adrenalin rises. The best reward after a hard climb is the breathtaking view when you reach the summit. The cherry on top is the well-deserved run afterwards. In order to turn this dream scenario into reality, we have gathered the necessary information about how to behave on the mountain.
In the mountains, you should not get overconfident, but rather focus on safety. The conditions can change any time, therefore the behaviour on site must often be adapted to them. The following methods and tactics should help you to minimize risks and avoid dangers.
Every tour depends on the equipment. Without proper equipment, the most beautiful adventure can turn into pure torture. There are items that must come on tour, others can. Here are some big and small helpers for the right equipment on the mountain.
Preparation is the base for every ski tour. But no matter how much you inform yourself, avalanches are unpredictable and can go off at any time. Therefore it is very important to be familiar with the different procedures in case of an avalanche.
