Avalanches

Avalanches are a frequent catastrophe that occur many times every year in the mountains. Tonnes of falling snow trap many a skier every year. This is why having a working DVA on you at all times during your ski run is essential, and can save your life, but is not the ultimate protection. Being wary of the risks at hand is the most important thing to do at any moment. Five avalanche alerts exist and are displayed by three flags:

Yellow is danger 1 or 2 (out of five). The danger is low, and skiing is with low risk. Please note that level 0 doesn't exist.

Checkered yellow and black is levels 3 or 4. Whereas level 3 is medium risk, this flag goes for level 4, where the dangers are high. Check the risks that are at hand before skiing, and avoid off-piste skiing.

Black is level 5, and very dangerous. DON'T SKI OFF PISTE, and if possible, avoid skiing completely. keep to safe slopes and don't ski alone!

Some statistics:

Statistics:

You can see here the number of deaths and survivors in avalanches every winter since 1986, until 2001. Please note that the numbers aren't going down, because more and more people ski each year.

In the Alpes, between 1996 and 2000, 180 people were avalanche victims in France alone. During this periode, if you sum up the victims in France, Austria, Italy and Switzerland, about 480 people were caught up in an avalanche. Be carefull and you shouldn't be in the next statistics evaluation for avalanche victims.