The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/all/20050204000611/http://instant-ski-insurance.co.uk:80/avalanche/index.htm
Instant Ski Insurance

Avalanche Information


To get the latest avalanche safety equipment please Click Here.

By following the correct safety measures you can quite easily avoid an avalanche disaster but after saying that avalanches can easily be one of the greatest hazards facing winter travellers in the mountains. Every year people are killed usually triggering the avalanche that eventually buries them. About half of all buried victums will die if they are not rescued within 30 minutes. Many are killed during or within minutes of the avalanche from suffocation, the severe trauma of hitting boulders or trees during the slide, or having been crushed by massive blocks of snow. The victums only hope for survival is a fast and organized rescue from the rest of the party. Learning to avoid avalanche terrain is essential to safe winter travel in the mountains.

There are two types of avalanches, loose snow and slab avalanches.

Loose snow avalanches begin from a single point and expand as they descend. The slide path looks much like an upside down V. Loose snow avalanches are usually fairly minor, but in exposed climbing situations, or late in the spring they can be very serious.

Slab avalanches are the greatest threat to skiers, climbers, snowmobilers, etc. A slab is a cohesive layer of snow that has not bonded well with the layer below it. As a result it is under stress, supporting its own weight on a slope. When the stress within the snow layer exceeds the strength of the snow the slab releases much like a pane of glass when it shatters under its own weight. The trigger may be another storm, a change in temperature, or the weight of a person.

Please note that hazard warnings can vary slightly from country to country but generally they will remail the same.

Danger Level and Colour Avalanche Probability and Trigger Size Recommended Action
Low (green) Natural slab avalanches highly unlikely; human triggered releases unlikely; sluffs possible. Travel is generally safe; normal caution advised.
Moderate (yellow) Natural slab avalanches unlikely; loose or human triggered slab releases possible. Use caution in steeper terrain on certain aspects.
Considerable (orange) Natural slab or loose avalanches possible; human triggered slabs probable. Use increasing caution. Be aware of potentially dangerous areas.
High (red) Natural, human triggered slab or loose avalanche likely. Travel in avalanche terrain not recommended; safest travel on windward ridges or lower angle slopes without steeper terrain above.
Extreme (red with black border) Numerous natural avalanches certain and slabs easily triggered by humans. Travel in and near avalanche terrain should be avoided; travel only in low angle terrain well away from avalanche path routes.


Avalanche Danger Level table reproduced with the kind permissoin of WorldWeb


What to do if you're caught in an avalanche

Shout so your group knows you need help.

Try to discard equipment: skis, poles, board.

Swim to stay on the surface. Work your way to the side.

As the Avalanche Slows:

Fight to reach the surface.

Try to get a hand above the surface so that it can be seen.

Make an air space in front of your face with your other arm.

Try to relax to conserve energy

Searching for a Victim:

The most experienced person should:

Take a moment to organize the search party.

Consider the possibility of another avalanche before attempting a rescue.

Set an escape route and post a lookout if necessary.

Mark the last seen point of the victim(s).

Search with Beacons:

Ensure all rescuers' beacons are switched to receive.

Spread out at 30 meter intervals to cover the debris.

Look for surface cues: a hand, hat, glove, etc.

Don't litter the slope with rescuers' belongings.

Search around and downhill for any clues.

When a signal is picked up assign one or two to locate it while the others continue the search.

Pinpoint the signal to a small radius, then probe to find the victim.

Without removing the probe, quickly dig out the victim.

Turn the victim's beacon to receive if others are still buried.

Searching Without Beacons:

Have all rescuers vigorously search for surface clues.

Probe the most likely areas: around clues, in line below the last seen point; around trees, rocks. etc.

Concentrate on the last few meters of the debris and other areas of deposition.

After a thorough search by random probing, set up an organized probe line. Start at the base of the debris and work your way up the most likely trajectory.

There is a 60% chance of finding someone with a probe line. If unsuccessful, cover the area again.


Practice your rescue plan before you need it. Over 50% of people completely buried in avalanches do not survive after 20 minutes. You do not have time to go for help. YOU ARE THE HELP.


'What to do if Caught in an Avalanche' reproduced with the kind permissoin of WorldWeb


Most good skiing and snowboarding retailers stock a wide range of sunglasses and goggles. You may want to check all your gear before starting out, try a reputable ski equipment supplier such as Facewest . They or somebody like them can supply you with the best quality ski gear all online and at short notice sometimes which is useful. the importance of good quality ski clothing and equipment cannot be stressed enough, especially good quality goggles.


Instant Ski Insurance