 Poster: A snowHead
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An avalanche swept down an off-piste area at the Formigal ski centre in the Spanish Pyrenees today, killing three skiers. Two of the skiers died during attempts to revive them, a third was initially missing and a police rescue team with sniffer dogs and helicopters had to search the mountainside. The body of the skier was found later....
See: http://www.guardian.co.uk/spain/article/0,,2235487,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12
Tragically, three people died in avalanches on Thursday in Austria. A 19-year-old woman from Vienna was killed at Krippenstein. Three men were hit by the avalanche too, but managed to free themselves.
At Hintersee near Salzburg, a 53-yaer-old ski tourer was hit by an avalanche. He was rescued but died of his injuries later. And, in Montafon (Voralberg), a 50-year-old man skiing with his family was also hit by an avalanche. He too died because of his injuries.
Article in German: http://oesterreich.orf.at/stories/247127/
There have also been several deaths in France already this season. See Pistehors: http://pistehors.com/news/ski/sub/category/Avalanche/
Over in North America, the number of deaths due to avalanches has so far been abnormally high this season. There have been 13 deaths in the US and 6 in Canada. The national average in the US for the whole season is about 25, according to the U.S. Forest Service's National Avalanche Center in Ketchum, Idaho.
See: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_wst_avalanche_danger.html and http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_wst_avalanche_danger_deaths.html
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Condtions are unstable in St Anton with many south/south western slopes sliding (Matun) . Today part of Steissbachtal (happy valley) was closed for saftey reasons.
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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?
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Walkers have been advised to avoid Helvellyn in the lakes this weekend due to a very high risk of avanlanche there.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Just seen on the news that another person was killed in Austria yesterday (ski tourer I think) bringing the total to four.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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not just the US and the european alps , Scotland has had major snow and this weekend will see loads on the mountains , at Glenshee the SAIS team dug a 130cm deep hole in the snow whilke assessing the risks , here is their report ---
Avalanche Hazard Fri 04/01/2008
Fairly continuous snowfall has formed more widespread cover from valley level. In sheltered locations on SW through NW to N aspects deep drifts have formed. Above 600 metres significant accumulations of weakly bonded windslab are present. Shear tests continue to fail at isolation indicating a highly unstable snowpack. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4)
Avalanche Hazard Outlook Sat 05/01/2008
There will be further snow showers but the freezing level will rise to 1000 metres overnight and then lower to 900 metres on Saturday. Recent accumulations will start to consolidate but moderately to weakly bonded deposits will be present in steeper sheltered locations on SW through NW to N aspects above 600 metres where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3)
As a comparison , Val D'Isere is sitting at category 2. So all who are out today and tomorrow on the mountains across scotland , the risk is high so watch where you are skiing.
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Whistler had a big slide today, inbounds. I haven't heard officially, but apparently it was a class 3. No idea if anyone was caught in it.
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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.
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Another skier was killed in an avalanche in Austria on Sunday, while skiing in the northern Pongau region.
The 33-year-old Italian woman, who was not identified by name, was dug out by her skiing partner within minutes of the avalanche, but she was already dead, the Austria Press Agency said, citing Alpine rescue officials.
See: http://news.smh.com.au/avalanches-in-austria-kill-five/20080107-1kjk.html
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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stanton,
When you say St Anton do you mean prepared pistes or off piste. I recently sent an email to the Vorarlberg Avalanche Warning Service enquiring about the avalanche history in Lech where I am going in a couple of weeks. I also asked whether or not it would be a good idea to rent a transmitter but was told it was unnecessay if we intended staying on groomed pistes which we will. I am qurious as to where most avalanches occur ie are they most common off piste or are they possible on groomed pistes also. Would you feel it necessary to rent a transmitter in Lech for piste skiing. I was going to get one for my wife as we have a young family.
BarryOS
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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.
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BarryOS, There should not be an avalanche risk on-piste or on ski routes, however avalanches have come across pistes. I would say very few people that only ski on-piste carry a transmitter, there aren't cheap either at over €300.
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Since the start of december 2007 a total of 20 people have been killed on the snow (includes sledging deaths) in Austria. This compares with only 3 deaths in the same period last season.
Last edited by 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  on Tue 8-01-08 13:09; edited 1 time in total
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You know it makes sense.
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In the Dolomites last week I could not find any information on snow depths or avalanche risk! All I saw at some lifts was a light that would flash if their was high danger. It also said at the ski pass office off-piste skiing was forbidden as it might scare the wildlife!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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It seems likely that the snowboarder missing at Big White is dead as a body has been found. Another avalanche near Lake Louise killed a 19 year old skier yesterday. As per this report that means 4 avalanche deaths in Western Canada in 2 days
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Poster: A snowHead
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| DB wrote: |
| Since the start of december 2007 a total of 20 people have been killed on the snow (includes sledging deaths) in Austria. This compares with only 3 deaths in the same period last season. |
Not really that surprising when you compare the conditions in December each year, is it?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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[quote="BarryOS"]stanton,
When you say St Anton do you mean prepared pistes or off piste.
Does anybody know any stats about the ratio of of off-piste avalanche deaths to on-piste.? My guess would be 100:1
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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?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Very sad to hear of these deaths, especially the man killed at Big White, which holds a place dear in our hearts. My thoughts to friends and family 
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FAQ
