Mountain Safety

The Mountain Environment

 

Altitude

The amount of oxygen available to the body decreases at altitude. Given time the body adapts to the reduced availability of oxygen (acclimatisation). Because of the reduction in available oxygen, exercise at altitude will put a greater strain on the body, which will fatigue much quicker than at low altitude. Water loss is much higher and therefore you need to drink more water than usual. Other effects of being at altitude include symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, insomnia and nausea. Some, but not all, of the effects of exercise at altitude can be mitigated by being fit. See Strength and Condition.

Cold

Very cold environments cause increased stress to the body.  Like extreme heat, extreme cold has the potential to decrease human performance.  When coupled with low temperatures, factors like wind and moisture can make cold weather even more treacherous. The main priority in chilly climates is maintaining body heat to avoid conditions like hypothermia and frostbite. Cold will enhance the effect of fatigue.

Fatigue

Snow-sport injuries are much more likely to occur when you are fatigued and so often just before lunch or at the end of the day. Fatigue can also lead to poor technique, which will increase the chance of a fall. In order to reduce your chances of fatigue you should improve your levels of strength and fitness before skiing. Although skiing may be a family holiday it is a physically demanding sport. See strength and condition and Prevention of injury.

 

Safety advice

 

General safety tips:

Avalanches are the most dangerous hazard that face an off piste skier. Avalanches occur most frequently following fresh snow that has been then affected by the weather conditions that occurred both before and after the fall. Wind, temperature and sun all influence the snow pack stability. The risk is greatest during and in the first day or so following fresh snow. Although avalanches are most likely on slopes between 35 and 40 degrees they can occur on lesser gradients. Skiers and snowboarders tend to get caught in avalanches that they have triggered by their own party, or a party above them. Remember that a favourite pitch that you have skied many times without trouble is no guarantee that a slope is safe. Reduce your risk by being adequately equipped, skiing safely. Avalanches can occur on days that are ‘Low Risk’ on the Avalanche Scale. Consider skiing with a Mountain Guide their local knowledge and understanding of the snow pack is likely to be better than yours!

Wear an Avalanche Transceiver and take a probe and shovel at all times when skiing off piste. Don't ski with people who will not observe this rule. Attend a course so that you know how to use it.

• Put your transceiver on first thing under your clothing not in a pocket
• Check the batteries and turn it on before you hit the slopes
• The batteries run down very slowly so don’t turn it off until you leave the slopes at the end of the day
• Do a transceiver check on all members of the party before you set off
• Never ski off piste alone. Big groups are difficult to manage and are slow if safety rules are to be obeyed. Four is the ideal size of party
• Ski one at a time, the others should remain in a position of safety and watch in case of avalanche
• When the descending skier stops they should position themselves in the position of maximum safety. If an avalanche starts they should be out of harms way
• Ski down the edge of bowls and not down the middle
• Ski down ridges and spurs rather than bowls and gullies
• Leave plenty of space between skiers as this puts less stress on the snow pack
• Be aware of the consequences for skiers beneath you if you trigger an avalanche. (This particularly applies if a piste is in the run out zone of a potential avalanche)
• Do not traverse slopes. If this is unavoidable traverse as high up as possible. Never traverse above other skiers
• Watch and listen for cracks and movement in the snow pack, you may get a warning to be very careful!
• Avoid skiing under cornices. The slope under a cornice is where wind slab classically forms. Don’t stop too close to the edge of a cornice it may collapse under your weight
• If you trigger an avalanche let the rescue know even if no one is caught in it, if it was observed the mountain rescue may be called out unnecessarily