This winter season has seen a number of bad, and some fatal, avalanches in France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Italy.   There has been a similar overall amount of snow this season to last, but it is the consistency of the snow, together with the weather conditions, that has caused the high number of incidents.  Italy is considering rushing in some legislation to enable them to prosecute, fine and potentially jail, those who cause avalanches.   This would make Italian resorts the most strictly regulated in Europe.   Currently, Austria and Switzerland are considered to be the harshest Alpine countries.   In Switzerland, fines have been handed out to irresponsible skiers, some have been asked to pay damages and pay for rescue operations, while others have had their ski passes confiscated and been put on resort blacklists.   It is the same as drink driving - those that do it endanger the lives of other skiers.   More particularly to avalanches though – the lives of the emergency services are risked when they have to search for survivors or the victims and indeed last year four rescuers died after going to the aid of two tourists in the Italian Dolomites.   I fully support any decisions that the governments take in this regard.

However, having spent a lot of time in the mountains – I would like to challenge the ski operators on one point – their communication to skiers.  

There is an international standard grading of Avalanche Risk: 1 - slight, 2 - limited, 3 -marked, 4 - high and 5 - very high.   This is good and the rating is always displayed on the big piste map boards at the bottom of the main lift.   There is always a rating every day of the season and skiers are used to seeing a number and sometimes also a light or flag.   However, what does 2 actually mean?   Can you ski off piste at 2 but not 3?   What does a flashing light signify?  What does the yellow and black flag mean?  

It cannot be put down to language either.   Having recently spent time in an Austrian resort – it wasn’t even clear in German what action the skier should take.   They had a detailed chart showing the angle of slopes and a commentary on the weather, the snow and the number rating – but not what it actually meant for the skier and what they should do.    It was unclear whether skiers could go off piste or not.   Indeed it is not always clear what is classified true off-piste and what is just unprepared snow in between the pistes.

I bet that if I did a survey of 100 skiers at the bottom of the lift and asked them how they should modify their skiing for each of the number ratings – 95% would not know the answer.

It is right to come down heavily on those who ski in a dangerous fashion and endanger the lives of others, however, skiers need to be educated and communicated to clearly.   Surely prevention is better than prosecution?