Tobias Kurzeder

Werner Munter, the so-called avalanche pope and godfather of our PowderGuide book, is considered the founder of the "New Avalanche Science". In addition to his almost universally known 3x3 filter and reduction method, Werner Munter has also developed other avalanche risk check and limit systems. We would like to introduce you to a particularly interesting approach: the beer mat check. After Werner Munter made the claim that modern avalanche science should be so simple that it could fit on a beer mat, he developed a short and concise avalanche check system. And this has been known as the beer mat ever since.

Swiss avalanche expert Werner Munter has developed effective methods that freeriders can use to drastically reduce the ever-present risk of avalanches. He uses the 3x3 filter and reduction methods, which are also known to many as the Munter methods.

It is a truism that it is more dangerous in the mountains than at home. Every winter sports enthusiast, and even more so every freerider, knowingly or unknowingly takes risks. Away from the secured pistes, this risk naturally increases significantly.