Weather Hazards

 1. Low Visibility

Usually when skiing, people who face harsh weather conditions, many take is as a signal to head back to their lodge for a cup of hot chocolate, but adventure awaits those who trek out in harsh weather conditions! To cope with low-visibility conditions, you'll need to keep in mind some tips and tricks as well as understanding why low visibility occurs. Perhaps after this process, you'll even find it fun to ski in such conditions, if not less dangerous.

But what's the most dangerous element of big mountain skiing? An avalanche.

These occur when one layer in the snowpack carries the burden of too much snow and collapses. Two key variables in this are an already weak snow layer and what is known as a trigger.  These triggers are either human-made (by a skier adding to much weight to the weak snow layer) or natural-made (new wind-deposited snow for example). The most amazing fact from this all is that in most cases when an avalanche occurs and traps or kills someone, it is most likely themselves or someone in their party who was the trigger.

 2. Loose-Snow/Sluff Avalanches

This type of avalanche is created when snow is not properly bonded or well bonded. Like depth hoar, loose-snow occurs when snow crystals fail to bond but on a less extreme level. Sluff avalanches can be recognized by the "inverted V" shape that appears on the snow when the avalanche passes by. Usually. this kind of avalanche does not have the capacity to bury people but it can injure you by making you fall, or cause equipment injuries and trauma.

3. Slab Avalanches

Slab avalanches are the more dangerous type of avalanche. These can travel thousands of metres and tend to bury people in their midst. Once buried the survival rate is about 50% if you are able to survive at the initial layer of snow and can breathe for the 30 minutes that has been estimated. These avalanches happen when a sheet of snow breaks loose largely due to three factors: wind, gravity and the strength of the bonds between the snow layers.  

4. Ice Pistes

Deep snow is the most important requirement for a peaceful skiing trip. However, if it hasn't snowed in a while then pistes will start to become icy. Most people don't prefer skiing when there are icy pistes because the gear doesn't dig well inside the pistes and makes it harder for them to ski. As a result, while skiing a lot of people lose their control or directional sense. Thus, it is always safe to make sure the ice pistes are not on your way.