"avalanche & crevace dangers" Top 5 Page for this destination Lauterbrunnen Local Custom Tip by MrBill

If you are an American skiing in Europe the one thing you will not see in the Alpine backcountry, or off-piste as we call it, are signs warning you not to enter an area due to potential avalanche dangers. The majority of the ski hills, the on-piste areas are clearly marked and roped-in. You will often see signs adjacent to the marked piste indicating steep cliffs and/or crevaces nearby. However, if you choose to ignore the warnings you do so at your own risk. No one will stop you, but if you are injured you will have no legal recourse. In other words, you cannot sue someone for your own stupidity or bad luck, and that is just the way if should be.

You are advised to ski in pairs. To carry avalanche transceivers, shovels and probe poles. If you are ski touring or snowboarding where there is a danger of cravaces, you should also have an extraction rope and prusic ropes, and know how to use them. A knowledge of z-pulleys is also advisable. Self-help is best. Rescuers may be a long time in arriving.

If you trigger an avalanche and kill yourself, that is a risk you accept, if you ski off-piste. If you trigger an avalanche and kill someone else, you may be charged with criminal negligence. You put the lives of trained rescuers at risk when they have to launch a search & rescue mission to locate and extract you. If you are rescued, you may be charged in cash or credit card for the extraction, so it is advisable to also carry extra insurance.

So, think about it before you duck the rope and head out off-piste.