Further Avalanches in The Alps take five more lives.

Went ice climbing in Cogne today, -12 deg in town. Chose a route specifically for low risk of avalanche from above but still nearly got pulled off from a big sluff (10cm deep slide from a rock slab on side of route maybe 20m2). Certainly enough to wake you up and fill your jacket. Snow amongst trees on walk off was actually stable, waist deep super light power. Dug a pit out of interest and no obvious weak layer at 1800m.

Some good information in this:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/10556567/Skiing-off-piste-why-its-too-dangerous-this-season.html

So on Monday 4 friends narrowly missed an avalanche on Toula glacier. One of them was late getting ready and one of them insisted on coffee at bottom of the Helbronner lift and hence missed it by <10min. 5 buried, 2 deeply but all survived as seems was a lucky but well equipped party.

Was interesting to have beers with one of them last night. She was full of reflection on how you can perhaps be led into believing you are safe group because there are others around pushing the boundaries far more.

Skied in Le Tour yesterday, so many signs of avalanche activity on the steeper slopes.

There have been more than enough warnings about the instability of the snow pack this year and still people ignore and go off piste,
I am not renowned for my empathy so come on folks heed the warnings ….

Good ski run though and like good food and wine it will not always be good for your health. There is always an allure for the "deep", some watch it on TV some live it. One man's avalanche is another man's beer gut. I guess both seek to avoid, listen to advice but ultimately you live your life as you chose.

N.B.: The high mountain routes are neither sign-posted nor controlled, therefore they are to be treated as mountaineering or Alpine skiing routes and should be faced with the necessary preparation and equipment. If you take these routes without mountain guides, you will do so at your own risk and danger.