Back doing our Snowboard instructor course in Jasper, Canada, we had the pleasure of doing the avalanche course. This included using transponders and receivers, shovels and telescopic probes, throwing 3kg bombs off the top of the mountain to set avalanches off, and being buried 6ft under snow in a controlled area with a training tracker dog helping find me! The time of my life!

Snow avalanches are most likely to occur after a fresh snowfall adds a new layer to a snowpack. If new snow piles up during a storm, the snowpack may become overloaded, setting off a slide. Earthquakes can set off avalanches, but much smaller vibrations can trigger them as well.

The three factors required for an avalanche:

• Slope – Avalanche generally occur on slopes steeper than 30 degrees.
• Snowpack – Recent avalanches, shooting cracks, and “whumpfing” are signs of unstable snow.
• Trigger – Sometimes it doesn’t take much to tip the balance; people, new snow, and wind are common triggers.

Below are a list of fatalities since December 28th, 2023, with the amount increasing to over 50 people and this is increasing fast in the recent weeks. With snowfall forecasted over the Alps and many ski resorts worldwide in the coming weeks, there is a high risk of avalanches! Check your local ski resort where you’re heading for these warnings!

FATALITIES

Snow avalanches claim an average of 100 lives in Europe every year. The common goal of all European Avalanche Warning Services is to reduce the loss of lives and damages due to avalanches by providing the society with efficient and effective avalanche forecasting and warning services.

They start recording the number of fatalities on 1 October every year. The figures are based on reports received from EAWS members and their partners.

SEASON 2023/24

3 died Austria 4 March,

2 died France 28 December

2 died Finland 22 February,

11 died France 12 March,

1 died Germany 13 February,

8 died Italy 4 March,

4 died Norway 1 February,

1 died Poland 5 February,

2 died Romania 28 February,

2 died Slovakia 30 January,

1 died Spain 13 February,

5 died Switzerland 31 January,

1 died Montana 14 March

2 died Japan 11 March

And these are rising quickly!

So, in short, we want everyone to be safe and be aware of your surroundings. Ride within your ability and keep off the closed areas. Closed areas will be closed for a reason. There could be a high risk of avalanches that could affect that run.

Thank you to all our customers. Be safe and have an awesome end to the season 2024!

Pulmans ski and snowboard services