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Aosta valley touring only with a guide.

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
This is a google translation.

“ Ski touring only with a guide in the Aosta Valley
Ok to snowshoeing, skiing only with professionals

11 December 2020
From tomorrow in the Aosta Valley, ski mountaineering will be done only with a mountain guide.

The president of the Region, currently classified as an "orange zone", will sign an ordinance that allows residents to make snowshoe trips even outside the municipalities of residence. This type of activity is considered harmless from the point of view of the virus because it does not "create gatherings" and also has a low risk of trauma, as it is comparable to a "simple walk". Ski mountaineering, on the other hand, will be prohibited because it is too dangerous. According to Erik Lavevaz, president of the Region, the closure of the alpine ski facilities could result in an increase in ski mountaineering practitioners and the presence of too many "adventurers" in the mountains. The authorities are especially concerned about avalanche accidents because they believe that the response of the health system would not be adequate at the moment. It will be possible to ski mountaineering only if accompanied by a guide.

This provision appears disturbing because it constitutes a dangerous legal precedent for limiting freedom of movement in the mountains, effectively granting exclusivity to professionals. Certainly the historical context is that of the emergency and the measure has a precise time horizon. However, the Valle d'Aosta are wondering whether, at the end of the "orange zone", they will be able to regain possession of their right to sport or not, as happens in the "yellow zones".

In the meantime, limits and prohibitions are multiplying in the name of "safety". An ordinance of the Municipality of Valli del Pasubio prohibits hiking and skiing above 1300 meters until further notice due to "marked danger of avalanches". A rather unprecedented ordinance - usually with avalanche danger the roads are closed - and disproportionate to the danger. With 3-marked danger, according to all the most modern methods of risk reduction, it is possible to move in the mountains without running significant dangers, provided that the paths are properly chosen.

Faced with all these limitations in the name of absolute safety, it is natural to question the possible future evolution of mountain sports. Ski mountaineering, as well as mountaineering and climbing, was not born for those who love to stay at home safely. A minimal assumption of risk - conscious, reasoned, but still risk - is intrinsic in the practice of such activities, especially at a medium / high level.

With the emergency reduced or ceased, will we be able to regain possession of the freedom to risk, therefore also to evolve and improve, or will the dominant value remain that of safety? If the second hypothesis prevails, mountain sports will face a certain decline.

Marco Romelli”
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Surely the fact that rescuers of a higher risk activity would be put in a position of having to come into close quarters with someone who may have covid is of most concern. Realistically you’re far less risk if you’re just out snowshoeing. In the present circumstances, this seems sensible. Rescuers safety has to come first.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
During normal years, are there significantly more rescue incidents involving ski mountaineers than snow shoers?

Perhaps because skiers can move faster, so they got injured further away from civilization and necessitated rescue?
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 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
I think it's more that skiers move faster and so are more likely to wreck themselves if they fall
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