What To Do About Avalanches in the Dolomites

Anybody who participates in outdoor activities in mountainous regions, such as h

iking, climbing snowshoeing or skiing, understands the inherent risks that come
with partaking in such activities. One of the most dangerous of these is the ris
k of avalanche, which is the rapid collapse and slide of snow down the mountain.
The sliding snow has the potential to bury anything in its path.
Parker, CO, August 23, 2010 -- With avalanche season coming DolomiteMountains.co
m offers advice to winter sports lovers on staying safe.
Anybody who participates in outdoor activities in mountainous regions, such as h
iking, climbing snowshoeing or skiing, understands the inherent risks that come
with partaking in such activities.
Experienced skiers are typically at the greatest risk for the possibility of an
avalanche because of their propensity to participate in off-piste skiing, which
is skiing in areas that are not well groomed or travelled. The risk in this come
s mainly from the quality of the snow in these areas, which tends to be softer a
nd more powdery, and therefore much more volatile.
There are a few important things to note about avalanches:
* The two elements that play the greatest role in causing an avalanche are wind
and temperature
* Studies have shown that most avalanches are started by skiers
* Any time a skier goes off-piste there is a risk of an avalanche
In general, there are two types of avalanches: surface and base. Surface avalanc
hes involve only the top layer of snow that has not yet stuck to the layer under
neath. The thickness of this layer can vary from just a few centimeters to over
half a meter. Base avalanches are caused by extreme instability in the snow cove
r and all the snow slides, revealing the ground.
Base avalanches can take on three different forms:
Powder-snow – When a large amount of snow has fallen, and the temperature is extre
mely cold, the snow crystals can have a difficult time sticking together causing
the snow cover to be very unstable. These avalanches are particularly dangerous
because of the speed with which they take place, sometimes as quick as 200 kilo
meters an hour. Additionally, powder-snow avalanches involve a dangerous mixture
of snow and air which can quickly asphyxiate anyone who happens to be in its pa
th.
Wet-snow – These base-level avalanches typically occur in the spring, when there i
s a significant increase in temperature from the sun and the wind warms up. The
entire mass of snow ceases to stick, becoming wet and slippery and descending sl
owly down in the form of balls of snow. Although these types of slides are slow,
the snow is extremely dense and hardens quickly once it stops, making rescue of
trapped skiers very difficult.
Slab – These avalanches are formed by the wind, and involve snow crystals that tur
n into fine granules which accumulate, forming instable slabs that don’t stick wel
l to the layer beneath. When the snow slab breaks and crashes, it affects the en
tire slope. Slab avalanches vary in speed, depending on the gradient and thickne
ss, and are particularly dangerous to skiers because they are the hardest to pre
dict. In fact, three-quarters of all avalanche-related accidents are a result of
slab avalanches.
It’s important to note that some avalanches are a mixture of some or all of these,
 depending on the altitude. For instance, a powder-snow avalanche may occur at a
high altitude which sets off a wet-snow avalanche further down the mountain. Li
kewise, a slab avalanche might cause a dangerous powder-snow avalanche.
Once you understand what avalanches are, and what causes them, you must consider
what to do to avoid causing or being trapped by one. There are various scales u
sed to measure risk of avalanche, and there are generally bulletins issued with
advisories and warnings. Skiers and mountaineers should be well aware of these a
vailable precautions in order to avoid dangerous situations and prepare accordin
gly prior to heading out to hit the slopes. Those who do take the chance should
take heed to the following tips:
* Never ski alone and always let someone know where you plan on skiing
* Avoid groups that are too large
* Carry an ARVA (search equipment for avalanche victims) and understand how to u
se it
* Be careful where you stop and avoid lingering under large outcrops or crests
* Always be aware of the changing weather and fluctuations in temperature
* Choose tracks with care: preferably convex areas, slopes broken up by steep in
clines and flatter or undulating sections
* Don’t attempt off-piste skiing immediately after a heavy snowfall (80 cm, or les
s if the snow has drifted)
* If you do choose to ski off-piste, choose areas that are tree-lined or contain
a lot of undergrowth
* In the spring east-facing slopes are safer and skiing on the south and west-fa
cing slopes should be avoided late in the day
* Avoid crossing a slope in the middle
After taking all of the above precautions, should you still find yourself facing
an avalanche it’s important to remember the following:
* Assess the situation as quickly as possible
* It is better to escape to one side while descending
* If you are caught in the avalanche, do not panic
* If you are at the higher part of the mountain you should attempt to cling onto
something, such as a tree or bush
* If you cannot grab onto anything, try to ride atop the avalanche
Should you become buried it is essential that you do the following immediately:
* Keep your mouth shut and do not breathe – if the snow is powdery use a scarf
* Curl up with your arms and legs folded against your body
* As soon as the avalanche stops, use your knees and fists to push away the snow
as far as possible to create a small cave
* Remain calm and don’t waste energy and oxygen shouting
It’s important to remember that even well-travelled areas are not completely safe
from an avalanche, and anyone participating in activities on the mountain can be
at risk. Skiers should also be warned that just because they’ve skied a particula
r area before without incident doesn’t mean it will be as safe every time they ret
urn, as each winter is different and conditions may have changed greatly since t
he last run.
It’s also important to note that not all avalanches lead to fatalities. But if the
re is to be any chance of surviving one, the above suggestions and tips should b
e taken into account by anyone planning to spend time on the mountain.
To learn more about vacations in the Dolomite Mountains visit: http://dolomitemo
untains.com
Dolomite Mountains is the expert in adventure travel in the Dolomites and becaus
e they explore it every day, they have the unique advantage of in-depth knowledg
e of the terrain, including which sites and trails are best, based on individual
preference and skill level. Visitors traveling with Dolomite Mountains receive
superior accommodations and exceptional customer service. Personalized itinerari
es are their specialty, ensuring that each visitor enjoys an adventure that’s perf
ect for their individual needs, particularly the independent traveler who prefer
s to explore without the use of an expert guide. To plan your Dolomites vacation
visit: http://dolomitemountains.com
Contact:
Alexia Nestora
Dolomite Mountains s.r.l.
Parker, CO
3038983376
alexia@lassocommunications.com
http://dolomitemountains.com