Lawinensicherheit

A small backup with a big impact? Pieps launched another safety feature on the market with the Pieps Backup. In winter 2014, I tested whether it is worth investing in the backup and what it can really do.

The large airbag backpack from Mammut with the "Protective Airbag System" is designed for all those freeriders who need a slightly larger and particularly stable backpack with a good carrying system. We have tested it for you to see how it performs in tough everyday use.

One focus of ISPO reporting this year is, of course, the development of the market for safety and emergency equipment. The most important part of our multi-part ISPO special comes at the end: Here you'll find what's new in safety equipment.

The Freeride Survival Handbook by Melanie Schönthier and Stephan Bernhard is packed full of knowledge on its 144 pages; because in the mountains you should be prepared for everything.

Santa Claus is already rumbling up the stairs; the very last time to put a nice book under the tree for yourself or your loved ones. If you can't think of anything at all ... then take a look at our advertising corner for good old and good new books. Here are the (Christmas) recommendations from the PG editorial team. Guaranteed to be suitable for winter and Christmas!

After a number of interesting and sometimes innovative books on the subject of avalanches have been published in recent winters - such as the book by Nairz/Mair on hazard patterns - a new avalanche book has now also been published by the renowned mountain publisher Rother: "Lawinen: Verstehen - Vermeiden - Praxistipps". The author is long-time ski tourer, mountain rescuer and physicist Eike Roth.

Removable airbag systems allow expensive avalanche airbag systems to be inexpensively swapped between different backpack models, so that you are optimally equipped for more situations on the mountain for an acceptable additional cost. One such backpack that is ready to accommodate an R.A.S. - Removable Airbag System is the Mammut Pro R.A.S. ready.

If, despite all caution, it does happen, a shovel and probe are part of your life insurance, along with an avalanche transceiver and personal know-how. No wonder, then, that the demands on robustness and user-friendliness are high. Can the new developments from SALEWA meet these requirements?

Relatively unknown in Europe, the American company BCA has been producing avalanche airbag backpacks for several years. We tested the Float 32 freeride backpack for you.

The announcement for the Freeride Days at the Livingroom promised a lot... Mass start downhill race, avalanche lecture, practical avalanche transceiver training and a touring workshop... And all this in a living room atmosphere? Quite a lot planned for such a short weekend! Let's see if we can manage it all...

Avalanche airbags are now regarded as useful additional safety equipment. The 2012/13 market overview will help you decide.

The week started with a bit of fresh snow, but it wasn't quite able to make up for the thaw damage of the previous week. On Tuesday, all was right with the world again: lots of fresh snow and brilliantly cold late winter conditions. On Wednesday, the weather was glorious and it was backcountry time again, although the avalanche situation didn't allow any slopes steeper than 30 degrees. We had two great descents, but then the situation became too dicey: