Ski Resort Security: Understanding Avalanche Management
Any action done to direct or stabilise an avalanche's path is known as avalanche control. This can involve ski cutting, explosives, and other things. A system of colour-coded avalanche danger ratings is used by several ski locations to convey the present state of affairs. There are several travel recommendations for every risk level. It's critical to comprehend these ratings and the methodology behind their creation.
Knowing About Avalanche Triads
Knowing About Avalanche Traps
An avalanche has the potential to be extremely dangerous and deadly. Even with the greatest preparation and safety measures, unanticipated events may still endanger you or your skiing companions.
Backcountry skiers need to know how to evaluate avalanche risks. You should not only regularly check the avalanche forecast but also be aware of the snow conditions as you ascend. Unstable snow may be present if you notice evidence of past avalanches, notice a fracture line on the mountainside, or hear a loud 'whumpf' sound beneath or close to you.
Traverse traps are another thing to take into account. There are places known as terrain traps where even a tiny avalanche could have disastrous results. These places could be lakes, crevasse fields, cliffs, or gullies. These characteristics make an avalanche more deadly and can result in far more severe injuries. This is why picking your landscape wisely is essential.
How to Measure Slope Angles
Understanding slope angles is crucial whether you're a backcountry skier worried about avalanche danger or just sizing up your favourite run. Fortunately, there are numerous methods available for determining slope angle, ranging from the traditional clinometer used in most snow study kits to smartphone apps and online slope-angle maps.
It also concerns how the slope is shaped. A harmful release of tension or pressure that is more difficult to identify and control might occur from a convex slope, which is steep at the top and mellower at the bottom. Concave slopes might make it harder to access skiers or snowboarders since they hide them deeper in the snowfall.
Lastly, a slope's aspect—the direction it faces—can have a significant impact. For example, at temperate latitudes, avalanches are more likely to occur on north-facing slopes than on south-facing ones. This also applies to dry versus wet snow. All of these elements are taken into account when avalanche risk is evaluated and managed. This is the reason that RECCO handheld avalanche detectors are used by so many resorts and mountain rescue teams worldwide in order to protect their communities.
Recognising Avalanche Risks
Although there is no assurance that you won't ever be caught in an avalanche, there are numerous precautions you may take to lessen the likelihood of this tragic event. To begin with, you need to be aware of the type of avalanche you are dealing with.
Knowing the four primary types of avalanches might help you steer clear of hazardous areas. For instance, you should stay away from an area if you hear "whumping" noises or notice a fracture line that is easily apparent on the snow surface because these are signs of unstable terrain.
The slope angle is something else to consider. Avalanches typically happen on slopes with a steepness of at least 30 degrees. Keep an eye out for avalanche trigger sites as well, like cornices and convex rolls. Lastly, keep a watchful eye on the surrounding vegetation, as missing or broken trees may indicate the passage of a significant avalanche in the past. It's critical that you have quick recognition of these threats so that you can stay safe.
