PartnerNews | The Safety Academy Lab Snow live in Lechtal

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The digital training platform

Ski touring and freeriding are becoming increasingly popular and more and more people are active outside of the secured ski area. Lab Snow is a free digital training platform on avalanche safety and aims to ensure greater safety on the mountain.

The southern German company Ortovox has been focussing on safety in the mountains since it was founded. In collaboration with the Association of German Mountain and Ski Guides (VDBS) and safety and first aid experts, the Safety Academy Lab Snow was revised in 2023. The topic of avalanche safety has been raised to a very high level in four chapters with 16 video tutorials. Ortovox offers the online Lab Snow training portal free of charge. A great opportunity for ski tourers and freeriders to complete a high-quality avalanche awareness programme from anywhere.

The complex topic of avalanche safety is presented online for all skill levels in four chapters with interactive learning modules and quizzes. Lab Snow introduces newcomers to safety topics step by step, but existing knowledge can also be refreshed and reviewed. The digital training platform from Ortovox thus provides access to important safety knowledge, prepared for all outdoor enthusiasts.

From theory to practice

The theory was put into practice over two days of avalanche training in the Lechtal valley. Safety expert Chris Semmel first explained new topics such as the GKMR method in a theoretical lecture and then applied them directly in the terrain on a joint ski tour.

The GKMR method is an important tool for tour planning to ensure structured risk management: hazards, consequences and methods together determine the risk. This means: the probability of an avalanche (G) times its consequences (K) reduced by possible measures (M) result in the risk (R), which must be categorised personally and leads to a yes/no decision in the terrain. More on this in Lab Snow Chapter 2.

Before we set off on our first ski tour in sunshine and what felt like 30 degrees, we carried out an avalanche transceiver search with all participants. In the event of an avalanche burial, the avalanche transceiver search must be carried out as quickly and efficiently as possible - no time should be lost. As practice makes perfect, we started the avalanche transceiver search in the backcountry. Here we were supported by the knowledge from the fourth chapter of Lab Snow, which we had refreshed in the theory unit.

After the avalanche transceiver search and a short break in the sun, we set off on our first short ski tour to create a snow profile on a somewhat steeper slope and take a look at the snowpack. How a snow profile can be dug and read is explained in detail in chapter three of Lab Snow. We then chose the safest downhill route as a group. At a cosy end to the evening, the tour planning for the next day was carried out in plenary. The topics tour planning and risk management are closely linked and can be practised and tested in theory in chapter two in Lab Snow. We proceeded according to the Lab Snow instructions and worked through a checklist, starting with the avalanche bulletin (LLB).  

The joint ski tour then took us up to the Steinkarspitze. After a break at the summit, we dug another snow profile. The downhill slope was untracked and the snow profile, created by Chris, confirmed our "go" assessment for the descent. We enjoyed the powder slopes at a safe distance. Over coffee afterwards, we reviewed the two days and analysed decisions, exercises, effects and tour planning together.

The Lab Snow is a great opportunity for ski tourers and freeriders to enjoy trips into the backcountry with more safety and expertise. Try it out for yourself here.