How to Properly Prepare for a Ski Touring Outing?
Before heading out for a ski touring or backcountry skiing session, proper preparation is essential.
Start by gathering information about the snow conditions. To do this, check the avalanche risk bulletin, which is published daily by Météo France for the Northern Alps, Southern Alps, Pyrenees, and Corsica.
Among the various details in the bulletin, you will find a pictogram depicting a mountain with a number ranging from 1 to 5, indicating the estimated avalanche risk level.
This pictogram provides a quick overview of the snowpack stability, but it is not sufficient on its own. It is crucial to read the full bulletin to identify the most hazardous slope orientations and assess the risk based on altitude.
Reminder: Avalanches typically occur on slopes with an inclination of more than 30° or below a slope steeper than 30°.
All these slopes can now be easily identified using Géoportail: view the map of slopes steeper than 30°. This allows you to plan your route with full awareness of the terrain.
Once on the ground with your skis on, it is crucial to identify these slopes exceeding 30°, as noted during your trip preparation. To stay safe, always avoid having multiple people exposed on the same slope at risk of triggering an avalanche. The goal, in case of an incident, is to limit the search to a single victim while ensuring the rest of the group remains available on the surface to conduct the rescue and clear the snow.
Always be cautious of the excitement of the moment and the influence of group dynamics, which can lead to disregarding critical safety information. It’s essential to understand your own decision-making tendencies, as we are all susceptible—at different levels—to making irrational choices that put us at risk, even when all available information clearly indicates a dangerous slope.
These tips cover the basics, but we strongly encourage you to seek proper training from mountain professionals such as mountain guides or alpine clubs like FFCAM or FFME. You can also attend public training sessions organised by ANENA every year (https://anena.org/formations-publiques/). Additionally, check out our guide on how to conduct an avalanche victim search and make sure to practise regularly.
Example of an Avalanche Risk Assessment Bulletin
The Avalanche Bulletin is an essential tool for evaluating mountain safety conditions. It provides:
- The avalanche risk level (rated on a scale from 1 to 5).
- Risky orientations and altitudes, indicated using a wind rose diagram.
- Weather conditions: precipitation, wind, temperatures, and the rain-snow limit.
- Snowpack stability, describing dangers related to slabs, snow accumulations, or weak layers.
- Snow quality and depth, helping anticipate on-ground conditions.
Before heading out, always check this bulletin to adjust your route and minimise risks. For a detailed analysis and guidance on how to interpret it, visit our page on the Avalanche Bulletin.
Essential Avalanche Safety Equipment
For ski touring or backcountry skiing, it is crucial to carry a minimum amount of avalanche safety equipment. This gear is essential both for being located and rescued if buried under snow and for finding an avalanche victim.
This equipment, commonly referred to as an avalanche safety kit, includes the following items:
- An avalanche transceiver
- A telescopic snow shovel, preferably made of metal (more durable than plastic) and ideally featuring a pick mode
- A snow probe for pinpointing the victim's location in an avalanche search
All this mountain safety equipment should be stored inside or attached to your backpack in an easily accessible manner, and the transceiver must be worn under your ski jacket.
You may also consider wearing an avalanche airbag backpack to increase your chances of staying on the surface in case of an avalanche.
Make sure your transceiver is kept at least 30 cm away from any phone to avoid electromagnetic interferences.
Always check the battery level of your transceiver before setting off.
Beacon Function Check
Before heading out into the backcountry, it is essential to check all group members' avalanche transceivers. There are two possible methods:
Method 1:
All group members switch their transceivers to search mode, spacing themselves 3 to 5 metres apart. The exception is the person acting as the controller, who keeps their transceiver in transmit mode.
Each participant walks toward the controller and should observe a decreasing distance reading, followed by an increase once they pass beyond the controller. Once all group members have completed the test, they switch their transceivers back to transmit mode.
The controller then switches their transceiver to search mode and tests their own device by moving toward and away from the group. After all transceivers have been tested and validated, a final check is mandatory to ensure that every transceiver, including the controller's, is now in transmit mode.
Method 2:
Participants stand 3 to 4 metres apart with their beacons in transmit mode. The controller switches their transceiver to Group Check mode (or search mode if Group Check is unavailable).
By moving closer to each participant, the controller ensures they receive a signal and that the displayed distance is correct.
And there you have it! You're ready to put your legs to the test and head out in the mountains.