Why are they showing level 2 in arlberg? Started off at 4 on 11/3 and down to 2 by the time we left on Wednesday. In fairness virtually nobody was off piste during our visit
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Avalanche Fatalities since March 13
After all it is free
After all it is free
stanton wrote:
Avalanche Fatalities since March 13
Is it down to the old buried weak layer?
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
This is getting me really worried. Going out in a week to Zillertal, Mayrhofen, Hintertux etc. I'm not planning to venture full off piste, but would usually play 'on the sides' maybe. But from pictures which @clarky999 posted of Stubai area on the St Anton Avvy thread it's looking scary even to go off piste at all; and even on-piste looks a tad close sometimes. Last look at Zillertal thread was giving Cat 4 all over, but that was a while ago; don't know what it is now, and can only keep an eye on it once we're there. (What's best place to look that up, by the way?)
So what advice can learned members of this community give to anyone heading off to Austria (or elsewhere facing similar conditions) in the next week or two? (Especially since many holiday/recreational skiers are not Avvy trained or have only limited or old, fading knowledge.) I have really never thought about the risks so much as I am doing now; and even with some old mountaineering training courses, it's scaring me to realise how little I know and how exposed I could be.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@Grizzler,
Do not go off piste alone
Do not follow others (they may not know the terrain) blindly anywhere.
Check the snowpak !!!
The Two Germans (45 & 62yrs) who died yesterday in St Anton were very experienced off piste & fully equipped and even managed to trigger his airbag but the down force & weight (tons)of the snow was to great.
Hinterrendl in St Anton has claimed many lives over the years.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
@Grizzler, If you can scope out the area fully and evaluate the risks (be extremely cautious) then go and have a word with the nearest liftie; they usually have up to date information and can inform you of any dangers they know about. Obviously they can't tell you that an area is safe but they are usually pretty good at providing information.
I know my local area quite well and there are not many places I would be happy skiing off piste at the moment.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@stanton, Thanks. Good advice. But I was thinking at a much less adventurous and less trained or equipped level; and I don't think that many people will be checking the snowpack every time that they get off the chairlift to descend Red 65 (or Blue 45 or whatever).
My point was that those pictures show slips right next to a drag lift or piste, and in areas where people might just 'play' within very close proximity of the main piste (or cross over to another piste via a quick trip over the middle, down a bowl or short side, etc). And I believe that there was an avalanche a couple of weeks or less ago which actually came across a piste (fortunately not badly, I understand).
So, given current and likely conditions, should all mainly-on-piste visitors in the next couple of weeks be advised absolutely to stick very firmly only within the piste marker poles? (even if insured for OP). And, if there are slopes above and behind you, and inevitably some form of terrain trap at some point, how worried should you be even on some of the pistes? Are conditions really that bad? Or in reality, subject to the usual risks of snowsports, are recreational on-piste or side of piste skiers/boarders likely to be able to be as (I generalise) blithely unaware of things as usual?
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@Grizzler, there is still plenty of safe offpiste terrain, you just have to learn to identify it. Pay attention to slope angle, and watch out for 'terrain traps,' where any snow that slides can pile up deeply. Read some of Bruce Tremper's books for more info (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Staying-Alive-Avalanche-Terrain-Tremper-ebook/dp/B00AY489T6/ref=la_B001KMDS4M_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1489852686&sr=1-1&tag=amz07b-21).
@Grizzler, i have a lot of those questions myself, being an avalanche novice. After reading the Bruce Tremper book, Ive gathered that unless you have a lot of knowledge and experience, avoid any slopes approaching 30degrees and up (and connected slopes). It seems that gentle, shallow terrain (less than 25 degrees) is generally ok, so long as its not connected to anything steep. As I say im a novice in snow safety so I'm happy to be corrected by anyone who knows better.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@Grizzler, One of the most popular o/p routes in the Da Hoff is the "Valley of Death", but given the recent incidents I would worry a bit about doing it although I have done it multiple times a year for the last 16 years. There are two main entrance points, one at the top of the 150 man and the other at the top of the Horbergjoch(better). It is generally considered to be fairly safe and tracks out quick but it does have terrain traps in it.
Just did a quick google for Mayrhofen Valley of death and came across this vid from Jan this year.
I normally cross the river at the bottom of the valley and head down the far side, these guys stayed on this side, you can see they have to traverse avalanche debris at 6mins in, however it is not uncommon for the far side to slip also right down to the river.
Maybe its my age but I'm becoming more and more conscious of my mortality and may skip it when I'm there next week.
Despite its name, I have not heard of and deaths there or any avalanche burials there, but stand to be corrected.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
Last look at Zillertal thread was giving Cat 4 all over, but that was a while ago; don't know what it is now, and can only keep an eye on it once we're there. (What's best place to look that up, by the way?)
