Powder day off-piste – Safety begins with preparation
Fresh powder snow, bright sunshine and untouched slopes - seemingly perfect conditions for an unforgettable day of powder skiing. But enjoying a carefree day in the backcountry requires much more than just good skiing technique.
Responsibility in the field: Knowledge protects
Anyone venturing away from secured slopes should thoroughly familiarize themselves with the current snow and avalanche conditions. A realistic assessment of the situation is crucial for safe behavior in the terrain.
This includes:
- Understanding avalanche reports
- Recognizing danger signs in the terrain
- In-depth knowledge of what to do in an emergency
- Confident use of rescue techniques
Only those who can correctly assess risks and are well prepared can travel responsibly in open terrain.
Freeride equipment – more than just skis and powder
In addition to skiing skills and good planning, the right equipment plays a crucial role in freeriding. Modern safety equipment has advanced significantly and is now part of the basic equipment for off-piste skiing.
Important equipment::
- LVS-device (Avalanche transceiver) – for locating buried persons
- Avalanche probe – for precise location under the snow cover
- Avalanche shovel – for efficient digging
- Airbag backpack – can reduce the risk of complete burial
- First aid kit – for emergencies in alpine terrain
Regular checks of equipment, including battery level, functional testing, and test runs are essential. In an emergency, you must be able to rely on your equipment 100 percent.
Tour planning and group management – safety begins at home
A safe day of freeriding starts long before the first descent. Careful preparation helps to identify risks early on and make informed decisions.
Important planning steps:
- Study the current avalanche report
- Analyze weather developments and temperature trends
- Assess exposure (slope orientation) and altitude.
- Plan alternative routes and exit options
- Coordinate within the group (experience, expectations, fitness)
Group management plays an equally important role: maintain distances on steep terrain, choose meeting points, ski dangerous sections individually, and make decisions together. Clear roles and strategies avoid risky spontaneous decisions.
Avalanche Training Center – realistic practice
Since winter 2021, the Avalanche Training Center (ATC) has been located below the Laubersgrat valley station. The training facility offers a practical opportunity to train avalanche rescue under realistic conditions.
Several avalanche transceivers are buried in an area measuring 100 x 100 meters, simulating burial situations and enabling targeted exercises:
- The transceivers can be switched on and off centrally by radio.
- The probe target measures 40 x 60 centimeters and allows for realistic point searches.
- Hits are displayed both on the searcher's avalanche transceiver and at the control center.
With an avalanche transceiver and probe, the search for buried victims can be effectively trained here – an important skill in an emergency. The training facility is deliberately designed to be simple and self-explanatory, and the terrain is accessible to both curious beginners and experienced freeriders. In addition, an expert mode is available, allowing the level of difficulty to be adjusted individually. The clearly designed information boards also offer valuable insights into avalanche rescue for those with a general interest.
The training area is not only used by individual guests, but also by mountain guides and the ski patrol and rescue service for training purposes.
Avalanche courses – safety through training
- Anyone who wants to seriously prepare for off-piste skiing should attend an avalanche course, e.g., at local mountain guide schools such as Engelberg Mountain Guide.
These courses teach:
- Efficient rescue techniques
- Safe route selection and preventive measures
- Decision-making strategies in the terrain
- Risk management
They are aimed at beginners as well as advanced skiers.
Regular training can save lives.
Snow and avalanche research – knowledge from Davos
The Institut for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF in Davos is one of the world's leading research institutions for snow and avalanche science.
It investigates:
- The stability of different snow layers
- The formation of weak layers in the snowpack
- Weather and snow models for avalanche forecasting
- The effects of climate change on snow conditions
The results are incorporated directly into the daily avalanche reports, which provide freeriders with an indispensable planning tool.
Freeride etiquette – Respect for nature and others
Freeriding also means respecting the alpine environment. Wildlife sanctuaries and protected areas should be respected, as animals are particularly sensitive to disturbances in winter.
Other points:
- Respect ascent tracks and existing lines
- Be considerate of ski tourers and other freeriders
- Take your trash back down to the valley with you
- Observe local rules
Conclusion – Freedom with responsibility
Powder days away from the slopes offer unique experiences, but they also require responsibility, knowledge, and preparation. Training opportunities such as the Avalanche Training Center, professional avalanche courses, the latest research findings, and the right equipment help you to better assess risks and react correctly in an emergency.
Only those who are prepared, practice regularly, and act prudently can truly enjoy the freedom of freeriding.
Further information on Freeriding on TITLIS
