Proactive Avalanche Management: A Crucial Necessity
Recent events underscore the importance of thorough preparation before hitting the snowy slopes of a winter sports resort. To fully enjoy the thrill of mountain skiing, it is imperative to be aware of avalanche risks and take all necessary precautions. Safety should always take precedence over the excitement of mountain adventure.
Safety First
To minimize risks, safety precautions must be taken before hitting the slopes, including checking weather forecasts and avalanche reports. On the slopes, it is crucial to avoid areas marked as high-risk and heed the warnings of mountain safety experts.
In Tignes and most winter sports resorts, the avalanche risk level is indicated by an index displayed at the base of the slopes, rescue stations, and marked by a flag. In addition to being informed about conditions, every skier should wear avalanche safety equipment, including an avalanche transceiver (DVA), shovel, and probe. These tools can be vital in emergencies, allowing for the quick location and rescue of a buried person.
During descent, it is recommended to stay on marked trails and avoid unsecured off-piste areas. Caution is advised when exploring new areas, and skiers should always be accompanied, informing someone of their planned routes.
Understanding and Preventing Avalanche Risks
Different types of avalanches are generally classified based on snow consistency (dry/powdery, wet, or slab avalanches), triggered by various factors, including weather conditions, terrain topography, and human activities (especially snow sports).
Only potentially dangerous avalanches for slopes, roads, or buildings undergo preventive triggering. Ski patrollers secure the ski area using the Avalanche Intervention and Triggering Plan (PIDA), employing various methods to trigger controlled avalanches before they pose a threat, such as:
- Hand-throwing explosives for controlled avalanche triggering.
- Helicopters releasing explosive charges on risky slopes.
- CateX: a system using an explosive charge attached to a cable carrier.
- Gazex: remote triggering device using tubes to generate an explosive mix of propane and oxygen.
- Avalancheur: compressed air cannon ensuring the safety of surrounding areas.
The choice of Tignes is not a coincidence for Stay with us resorts; we trust in the professionalism of its teams, who perform outstanding work every day in the resort and on the slopes.
