Snow Quality and Stability
In sum, this past week was very complicated, but sometimes simple. For example, early on in the week, when it was raining, some really nice snow was to be found.. up higher than the rain/snow limit! But then the lack of freezing at night made it hard (and dangerous) to take advantage of the spring snow until Tuesday and Wednesday due to freezing at night. I found some good fresh snow (sprinkles from Monday night) on North facing slopes on Tuesday onwards, see vids of us skiing it on Weds 24 March if you don’t believe me! on www.getoffpiste.com There was also some good spring snow in places if you looked, used your common sense and weren’t afraid of making mistakes: sinking in wet snow from time to time and rattling across frozen snow that was gouged out by people sinking in the day before. For a good summary of what the snow quality was like this past week, see “Wayne’s Daily Diary’ on the web site: www.alpineexperience.com

Snow Quality: The rise in temperatures early this past week along with the lack of freeze at night i.e. continued high temperatures through the night, led to a big cycle of avalanching; the rapid rise in temperatures after such a cold spell, along with a very unstable layer of faceted snow grains at the bottom of the snowpack (see video on my blog www.getoffpiste.com on 19 March) made this one of the most active avalanching cycles we’ve seen for a while here in the Northern French Alps.

In fact so many avalanches were observed that many people questioned why the avalanche rating was dropped down from 4 over the weekend to 3 early in the week (see my blog www.getoffpiste.com for info and a debate on that). The net effect, however, has been a real stabilisation of the snowpack thanks to the rain and the warmth followed by lower temps. Those places that did not get much of the warming and the humidification/rain, still have an exposed cohesionless base in the snowpack – this snowpack was not subject to much melting and freezing on slopes that are high and North above 2600 metres or so.

Tips for this coming week
The snowpack has stabalised but, high North facing slopes of 2600 metres plus, that haven’t been skier compacted, will be something to watch out for because of the somewhat exposed, fragile cohesionless layer of snow (see my discussion on Snow Stability above) will end up under any new snow that we’ve received at the end of this week or weekend. Keep up-to-date on the snow conditions and stability by visiting our blog on www.getoffpiste.com and go to the avalanche forecast translation in the left column, OR if you can read French, on: www.meteo-france.com >Montagne>Bulletins Avalanches.

Snow Quality: The snow on North’ish faces has been a combination of cold wind-blown snow that is pretty hard/smooth/chalky (some breakable crust here and there); ‘pisted off-piste’ from skier traffic where there’s easy access from lifts; and, away from high off piste skier traffic, spowder and/or ‘deconsolidating’ snow that is ‘lossening up’ into an agreeable granular type soft snow (the powder and loosening granular old snow is due to the cold temperatures especially at night over the last two weeks). Some of the melt-freeze on South facing slopes has brought a nice smooth spring snow ‘transformé’ on lower altitudes (below 2400 m) mainly on steep slopes, but most South’ish facing slopes have developed a nasty breakable crust that will need a good amount of new snow on top in order not to feel it under-foot.

Snow Stability: The cold powder and loosening up of the snowpack due to cold temps on the North’ish facing slopes has accentuated the potential for high instability once we get new snow – there continued to be quite a few accidental avalanches over the past two weeks on steep North facing slopes in the Northern French Alps even as the avalanche rating went down to 2. The snowpack is surprisingly hollow in a lot of places on North slope aspects! South’ish facing slopes have been very stable after a cold night, but have become very unstable in places once the sun has warmed them up. With the predicted warming and rain above 1800 metres, these slopes could become very unstable during warming phases and especially rain events.

Note: One of the biggest risks these past two weeks has been falling and sliding down hard, smooth and steep slopes. A number of very bad falls and injuries were reported last week – this may pick up again especially if we don’t get much snow this week.

Tips for this coming week
If and when it snows, I’ll be heading high and North, but I’ll be thinking about the weak layers that are still persisting up there (and you should too!) especially if and when I head out onto any steep North facing slopes.

Keep up-to-date on the snow conditions and stability by visiting our blog on www.getoffpiste.com and go to the avalanche forecast translation in the left column, OR if you can read French, on: www.meteo-france.com > Montagne > Bulletins Avalanches.

We were reminded of three ways to manage risk – even level 2 risk:

1. ski a similar slope aspect and altitide before heading off into the back country
2. Check out your ideas with the piste patrol
3. Do some simple tests with a small snowpit

The group from The Pink House had previously had a private talk and the opportunity to look at the online talk, the day out in glorious sunshine and moderate temperatures allowed us to go into much more depth on Avalanche awareness. We also managed to fit in some riding where the snow conditions allowed us.

The risk was only level 2 and the obvious off-piste looked pretty tracked out, so the general impression was that it was safe. However by following the HAT code of practice we were able to avoid going into difficult snow conditions whihc could have proved dangerous and we discovered that in the untracked areas there were still dangers and risks.

The group had two different ideas on where to go to find great snow. Go off the back of the Grand Col (was good there last week). Go down the Lanchettes where it is North Facing and the snow holds well. But to check this we did two things.

First we skied a slope that was the same aspect and altitude as the Grand Col and discoverd it was pretty cruddy!

Second we asked the piste patrol about the Lanchettes and they told us the wind last night had really blasted the slope and it would be no fun and not that safe.

Then we went on some NE facing untracked slopes (see www.getoffpiste.com ) but went very carefully since the risk is level 2 and that tells you that an increased load on a steep slope can trigger a release (especially NE to NW facing – see bulletin)

When we dug the snowpit we found that there was a top layer of 20cm that was prone to shearing off. (so we were right to go one at a time and use islands of safety.PS if you would like a private talk in your chalet plus a day out doing the “The Talk on the Snow” and beeper training. We have availability this season and can do the whole package for €575 for a group of 6.

This includes a COPE certificate

Snow Quality and Stability
“I’ve been talking about a weak layer that is still persistent on North’ish facing slopes above 2200 metres, and it is still there”. This is what I’ve been saying for the past few weeks; true we haven’t had really big cycles of large avalanches, perhaps because the quantities of new snowfalls during any given snow-storm have not been that big in much of the Northern French Alps. However there has been accidental avalanche activity that can’t be neglected. The accidental avalanche in the Combe de Signal a.k.a. Sunny Bowl in Val d’Isère last Monday, is a good example of how, with a 40 cm of new snow over a few days, a well traveled area can suddenly be triggered and take 3-5 skiers down the slope with it (see photos on blog entry for March 1 on www.getoffpiste.com). This avalanche fit the forecast in the avalanche bulletin and the definition of the danger rating for the day – which was a 3.

Tips for this coming week
a) When there’s fresh snow on a steep slope, there’s always some risk that should never be marginalized in the minds of the people on that slope… just in case there is an ‘unlucky’ avalanche.
b) Well traveled off piste runs are fairly well packed down by in-resort skier traffic now, but once you venture even a little way from where people have been skiing over the last couple months, it’s a much less stable situation. Plus you never know… So keep up-to-date on the snow conditions and stability by visiting our blog on www.getoffpiste.com and go to the avalanche forecast translation in the left column, OR if you can read French, on: www.meteo-france.com >Montagne>Bulletins Avalanches.

Snow Quality and Stability
I’ve been talking about a weak layer that is still persistent on North’ish facing slopes above 2200 metres, and it is still there. Well traveled off piste runs in-resort are fairly well packed down by skier traffic now, but once you venture even a little way from where people have been skiing over the last couple months, it’s a much less stable situation. Plus you never know- so keep that weak layer (and what’s on top) in mind. You can keep up-to-date on this by visiting our blog on www.getoffpiste.com and looking for the avalanche forecast translation in the left column or if you can read French on: www.meteo-france.com >Montagne>Bulletins Avalanches.

I should point out that I have released a few small surface slabs of fresh snow on fairly steep convexities this past week. They were small (but big enough to knock you off your feet) because we didn’t have big accumulations when I set them off (which was on Wednesday). Remember that bigger accumulations will mean bigger slab potential! .. which brings us to the Tips for the week.

Tips for this coming week
This coming week looks like the same thing as last week in terms of weather: a series of snow storms coming through at some time or another (at least for the beginning of the week). So my advice is to just get out there and you’ll be lucky with the weather when it clears for a moment! And yes, I will reinforce my approach to skiing every fresh powder day: I start on low angle slopes and take into consideration everything that we present in our talks – again a summary is on my blog entry of 14 January on www.getoffpiste.com

Have Fun and Be Safe!

Snow Quality and Stability
Several accidental avalanches were reported through mid week this past week (before it started snowing) by the Météo France avalanche forecasting services in parts of the Northern French Alps on East, North and West slopes above 1800 metres (no one was seriously hurt). These reports are not surprising to me as there is a very weak layer of snow that I keep coming across especially where the good snow is: on East, North, West slopes above 1800 metres. Any new snow that has accumulated since Thursday in these areas (including snow blown in by the wind) will easily create new instability specially
on steep slopes. You can keep up-to-date on this by visiting our blog on www.getoffpiste.com or if you can read French on www.meteo-france.com > Montagne> Bulletins Avalanches.

Tips for this coming week
There are a couple very weak layers on North’ish facing slopes and very shaded slopes due to the periods of cold temperatures that we have experienced this season. This weak layer has not been much of a problem recently due to relatively small amounts of snow in each snowstorm that we’ve had over the last few weeks… but I’m keeping an eye on this instability since the best skiing is in the very places where the snowpack seems the weakest… With the new snow, I’m therefore starting on low angle slopes and taking into consideration everything that we present in our talks – a summary is on my blog entry of 14 January on www.getoffpiste.com

Have Fun and Be Safe!

Even though there have been more deadly accidents this year in France than usual, I think that there have been many, many more avalanche accidents where people were lucky and got out unhurt. This is mainly because the size of the avalanches (fractures often equal or less than 30cm) where relatively small. And as well-known avalanche expert, Bruce Tremper says, “When it comes to avalanches, size does matter”.

Tips for this coming week
There is a very weak layer on North’ish facing slopes and very shaded slopes due to the increased cold, which is creating the build-up of layers of angular/faceted snow crystals in the snowpack in these areas. Météo France is warning us all about these slopes even as they report increased stability on other (South’ish) facing slopes. More snow will be lots of fun, but will aggravate the already fragile condition on these slopes – especially North facing slopes that haven’t been compacted by lots of skier traffic on them.

Have Fun and Be Safe!

Snow Quality and Stability
There’s been some really good snow this past week in areas sheltered from the strong winds, but we’ve all been paying keen attention to a couple weak layers that have been evolving due to the very cold temperatures of early this past week and last week. Clues regarding these weak layers have been numerous: numerous reports of ‘whoomphing’ (which is the thunderous sound of a weak layer collapsing under a new layer of snow) over the last week, flagrant weak layers in many places especially on North-ish slopes (obvious in quick snow pits of 50-60cm or less, pisteur’s published snow pit data etc.), quite a few slab avalanche releases and the Météo France Avalanche Bulletins. You can keep up to date on the recent observed avalanches in Savoie: natural, artificial and accidental; as Méteo France Bourg St Maurice has been reporting/listing them most days on the official avalanche bulletins (you can access a translated version of this via www.getoffpiste.com).Tips for this coming weekStart your day on low angle slopes and think seriously about going on steeper slopes.. or not. Base your decisions on observable facts (like recent avalanche activity, info in the avalanche bulletin) and talk to the pisteurs – many of them will have just been out blasting. They may not tell you where the best skiing is, but if you can demonstrate to them that you are not an idiot, they will impart valuable information about the snow stability.

Have Fun and Be Safe!

Snow Quality and Stability
Over the past week, the snowpack has been stabilizing in much of the Northern French Alps. Météo France moved the danger rating from 3 to 2 on the international avalanche rating scale earlier in the week (see www.henrysavalanchetalk.com under ‘Free Information’ for definitions of these ratings). However, I’ve noticed that the top 10 to 40 cm of the snowpack, was starting to become a cocktail of cohesionless grains of snow by early/mid-week (made up of faceted/angular grains and some surface hoar created thanks to the cold temps) which gave that nice soft top layer a sort of granular feel to it rather than the light smooth feel of fresh new snow. I mention this because even though this top layer was nice to ski in earlier this past week (on most slopes except South due to a a nasty melt crust) it does become a weak unstable layer once it is buried under the new snow or snow transported by wind. I’m paying particular attention to this newer cohesionless layer above 2200 metres and so should you.There is also a persistent weak layer of cohesionless snow deeper down (approx 60-75cm or more down) in the snowpack that dates from the cold snap of early/mid December. This layer is still an issue above 2500 metres or so because these slopes/altitude didn’t get the rain in late December that ultimately had a stabilizing effect on the snowpack from 2500 metres and lower. Large increases in weight, like groups of skiers together on a steep slope can trigger a very large/deep slab avalanche due to this deep weak layer.
Météo France is warning people to still be careful on steep East to North to West slopes above 2200-2400 that could be susceptible to the weight of a group of skiers – and if there’s more snow (as is predicted!), these slopes could become more and more sensitive e.g. the weight of even a single skier could trigger a slab avalanche.

Tips for this coming week
Remember that most of the time an unstable slope will not avalanche.., but they do on occasion; sometimes taking peoples lives as we have seen this season already. SO, look bove
and below you – don’t stop in groups in exposed areas! Even when things get ‘stabler’ and the danger rating comes down, you can still set slopes off especially if you are grouped up in the middle of steep slopes. Stick to going one at a time on steep slopes (or below steep slopes) and stop in places that aren’t exposed to slopes above and aren’t exposing you to cliffs, holes, lakes and other nasty stuff below you.

Have Fun and Be Safe!

I couldn’t describe the current conditions and the latest accidents better myself. It is stable in most places off-piste and the snow has been great. So I would add that in order to decide where it is safe or dangerous, you need to: do some basic research like look at the avalanche bulletins very closely, know the hazard ratings definitions (all this is in English on www.henrysavalanchetalk.com), talk to experienced local people like Fab the Pisteur, look around for signs of danger yourself and begin to learn more by either coming to a talk or viewing an on-line talk. Most importantly, keep thinking while you’re riding!

When deciding where to go off-piste (I’m off piste every day) I’ve been using a lot of intuition over the last few weeks. That is hard to replicate for the average saisonaire (or someone out just for a week) I know, but to be honest, I’ve not been skiing big slopes above 2600 metres that have large areas that are over 25° slope steepness. Below that, the rain in late December helped to stabilize the snowpack and the very weak layer that evolved in early/mid December. So at times I’m going steeper at those altitudes.

Tips for this coming week
We’ve had nice fresh snow off and on recently; it looks like that trend will continue. If you want to be safe, go for the nice stuff on lower slope angles. If you go ‘steep and deep’, remember that the weak layer is still out there.. the slope you’re on most probably won’t release, but it might. So be ready for it.
Have Fun and Be Safe

1. Where you go and when,
2. How you go down or up , and
3. How well prepared you are”.

We’ve looked at the answers to the first two questions, so now we’re going to continue to tackle the question, “Is it safe out there?”, with the 3rd of 3 answers: how to be well prepared. Being well prepared is often the difference between a glorious day out and a complete disaster. Be comfortable with the people you are going with. If you have different attitudes to safety, you will find the experience very frustrating as well as potentially dangerous. Know how your equipment works. Make sure the others do as well; you are relying on them to rescue you. The chances of recovering a buried person alive fall off dramatically after 15 minutes (chances of survival are more than 80% in the first 15 minutes – dropping to around 50% after 30 minutes). You will only be able to find them this quickly if you have practiced with your transceiver, probe and shovel. Keep the group size to between 3 and 5 people. If there are only two of you and one gets caught, the other one is on their own trying to both rescue you and fetch help. If there are more than 5 of you, the group becomes fragmented and the safety risks increase. Keep thinking about what you are doing, being alert to danger signs. It is all too easy to let passion and enthusiasm blind you to risk. HAT has an online version of their “Ride Hard, Ride Safe” introduction talk available at www.henrysavalanchetalk.com. It provides more advice on how to be well prepared and make the right decisions.

Have Fun and Be Safe!

In last week’s report we started by putting together pieces of the puzzle in order to look at the 1st of 3 answers, deciding “where you go and when” which included the avalanche forecast bulletin, hazard rating, talking to local professionals, looking at recent avalanche activity and low slope angles (e.g. first thing in the mornign I start on slopes of about 25° or less – about red run steepness and less. Then I may go steeper or content myself on the lower slope angles if I feel that going steeper is too risky). For the 2nd answer, how you go down (or up), picture yourself on a nice fairly steep slope with fresh snow that you’ve decided to go for based on the points in the paragraph above. It looks great!

Now how can you have the most fun and still minimize the risk? Go one at a time on the exposed part of the slope; ‘exposed’ can be to large slopes above OR terrain traps below (these ‘traps’ can be cliffs under you, basins/holes under the slope where you can get buried deep and other obstacles like trees or even lakes (more than one person has been carried into the lake in Tignes le Lac for example). Regroup at ‘islands of safety’ which are places that are not exposed to slopes above you.. and remember that the victim of an avalanche almost always triggers that slope themselves (or someone in their group does.. or someone above). Finally, having an escape route in mind, as a last resort, can work in the first 1-2 seconds if you have the luck and presence of mind to get off of the moving slab in front of it/to the side or above the fracture.