Friendly Reminder | Annual avalanche safety training

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We've all been there: the first powder has arrived, everyone is going crazy, some are lucky if they can even find their avalanche transceiver - and it's usually been a while since the last exercise. And just like every year, we know: We really should practise again. Sacrificing a powder day for this - any group of friends who manage to do this deserves my full respect. To be honest, I haven't managed it yet.

In view of the increasing number of avalanches in the Alps, it is all the more important to regularly refresh your knowledge and routine. This may not be a new insight for most people, but it is important nonetheless.

The current snow conditions make freeriding possible only with a lot of effort. The start of the season is therefore the perfect opportunity to swap the strenuous ascent to the last untracked couloir for a day of "digging" - a practical and effective way to brush up on your skills.

Take advantage of the snow conditions and go digging!

Preparation for digging. — Dig around the search field.

Johanna Korte

Feldberg

Nils Le Coutre & Sammy Theurer

How do I go digging?

Most people have (hopefully) already taken part in a professional avalanche safety training course. Such courses are extremely important - not only to gain new knowledge, but also because procedures change and you may have overlooked details during previous training. However, the most important thing when rescuing buried victims is routine: in a real situation, there is hardly any time to think - you automatically have to know how to proceed.

You don't necessarily need a specialist for this. You can help each other to develop the right routine. Find an open area like the ones used for professional training or visit training areas such as Hochfügen or Engelberg to practise searching and probing under realistic conditions.

If these options are not available, you can simply use an open area, form teams and play through different scenarios one after the other. The other team members give feedback or start small distraction attempts - just as it could happen in a real situation.

Digging on the Feldberg. — Digging on the Feldberg - snow depth 30cm.

Johanna Korte

Feldberg

Nils Le Coutre

Example of search fields or field exercises:

There are four of you.
One person buries their backpack with the avalanche transceiver switched on while the others are not watching.
Then a start signal is given and the other three search for the backpack.
The time is timed and then there is feedback on communication and procedure.

You can then try out other variations:

2 people buried - 2 searchers
3 people buried - 1 searcher
1 buried person - 2 or 3 searchers
...and anything else you can think of

Important points when practicing:

Probing perpendicular to the surface
Slowly and systematically cross out
Assess where buried victims are likely to be on the mountain - e.g. whether you have to walk back up the mountain or descend from the top

Discuss these points in the group. If disagreements arise or someone is unsure, a professionally led course can be helpful. Even if you don't attend a course, make sure you practise the routine regularly - it's crucial. And have fun freeriding!