Brits have lucky escape in Verbier Avalanche

Admin wrote:

verbier_ski_bum wrote:what on Earth were they thinking, but in terms of being there when they were

Absolutely agree; the emphasis should certainly be on not being there in the first place. But judgement calls can be wrong (and often are, as evidenced by the regularity with which experienced guides and guide-led groups get avalanched).

Also worth remembering that even if you take a safer route, you can still get some fool above you that skis the slope you backed out of.

The kit is essential - if only to limit the time exposed to danger of the brave souls who come to dig out your body. It might help them find you early enough too.

I find it acts as a reminder of the dangers, and TBH have yet to ski with anyone who thought they could take extra risks when wearing a bleeper (and wouldn't ski with them if that were the case!).

verbier_ski_bum wrote:Had they had the equipment the outcome would have likely been the same.

Often the case, but not always. It does seem likely that the poor girl who died after the Tignes avalanche last week would have been found more quickly had she been wearing a transceiver.

And the final point (maybe even the most important) is that if you've got the kit then you can go to the help of others. One particular report from last winter has stuck in my mind; of a group who came across fresh avalanche debris and noticed tracks going under it. One of them switched to search on the off-chance... and they found and dug out (alive) two skiers.

Backing out (when in doubt) saves many, many lives every winter, but bleepers can and do save a few too.