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Tour planning with White Risk: field report

Planning aid for tours using the example of the Blankuskopf

by German Wehinger • 03/02/2017
Ascent to the Blankuskopf

Ascent to the Blankuskopf

German Wehinger
Rätikon
Pamela

Ascent to the Blankuskopf

German Wehinger
Rätikon
Pamela
With White Risk, the SLF has been offering a very comprehensive and intuitive license-based e-learning tool for avalanche prevention for many years. In the 2016/17 season, the tool will be presented in a completely revised version. We tried out the tour planning features on a ski tour in Brandnertal.

The White Risk "Portal for Avalanche Prevention" is based on four modules - Explore, Learn, Tour & Pro - and is available in four languages (German, English, French, Italian). There are different license models depending on usage patterns. Smartphone apps are available for iOS & Android.

I tested the "Tour" module for PowderGuide as a planning aid. I chose the Blankuskopf in Brandnertal as my destination. The planning is created using four menu items:

  1. Plan route

  2. Evaluate conditions

  3. Further preparations

  4. Share & Take along

After logging in to the White Risk portal at https://www.whiterisk.ch, click on the desired "Tour" module. Continue with "Create new tour" and the planning aid is started. The full-text search for the Blankuskopf did not get me to my destination. Navigating with the map is much more efficient.

Because the Blankuskopf in the south of Vorarlberg (Austria) is almost directly on the Swiss border, I can make full use of the Swisstopo maps for planning. Brilliant map material! There are also maps available for Austria and France, some of which have fewer overlays to choose from. Before the route is drawn, overlays such as slope inclination, ski routes, wildlife rest areas etc. can be displayed. This makes work much easier.

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Smartphone view

All important information is integrated in the smartphone app

White Risk App

All important information is integrated in the smartphone app

White Risk App

The main & alternative route can be drawn quickly and easily. Marking and describing key points is just as easy. The points can be changed or adapted at any time.

In my opinion, the suggested ski routes are no longer up to date. Blindly following these suggestions can have fatal consequences. Ski routes and corridors are much better presented at Skitourenguru. Disadvantage: only available for Switzerland.

Also, slope gradient is not the same for the available providers (see e.g. Bergundsteigen 97, p 50-54). Personally, I like the classification of the www.openslopemap.org very much. Disadvantage: the overlays are only available for Austria, South Tyrol and Slovenia. The market here today is quite diverse.

Once the main route has been drawn in White Risk, the most important coordinates, such as length, altitude, duration (adjustable to suit your fitness level!) and a rudimentary altitude profile can be easily determined. Once this has been done, the current conditions are estimated.

The LLB for Switzerland is perfectly integrated into the system. The other European LLBs can be accessed via an external link.

An additional menu item attempts to complete the planning with specific questions about the person, route and conditions. Potential participants are also recorded in this step. Once the planning is complete, there are various options for sharing the content with others. A link can be sent or a PDF generated. The GPS data for the main and alternative routes can also be downloaded.

Route planning

Main route with further relevant information

1.) Route planen - Tour White Risk

Main route with further relevant information

1.) Route planen - Tour White Risk

The "Tour" module from White Risk presents itself to me as a comprehensive planning aid and is a valuable addition to conventional methods. Especially at the stations 1) Plan route and 2) Assess conditions, helpful in-depth information is provided for the "Learn" module. Planning a tour with pen, paper, compass and slope inclinometer is much more time-consuming and quickly becomes tedious when it comes to slope inclination. However, calculating your own planning time for the tour is simple and valuable.

Furthermore, a smartphone is now a constant companion that is always and everywhere with you. White Risk offers an app for Android & iOS. This makes synchronization with the smartphone easy and has worked for me (Android) without any complaints. I also find it very useful that all planned tours can be saved. These are therefore available at any time on the PC and smartphone.

Conclusion: The "Tour" module from White Risk is definitely a recommendable, comprehensive and intuitive planning aid for tours.

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