Skiers in alpine terrain

Avalanche Advisory Reminder

As the South Island is gripped by what some have described as 'powdermonium', it is a good time to think about the post-storm snowpack in the backcountry.

Check the avalanche advisory: If you’re heading into the backcountry, check the NZ Avalanche Advisory by NZ Mountain Safety Council while planning your trip and again before you leave home: avalanche.net.nz 

Share public observations: If you’re heading into the backcountry, share what you see with the avalanche advisory’s public observations tool. Observations help the entire alpine community—they can be freely accessed by the public on avalanche.net.nz when planning backcountry alpine trips, and they are actively used by the avalanche advisory forecasters.

Get #AvalancheReady: Heading into avalanche terrain? Get #AvalancheReady in three steps: 

  1. Get the training: You can start with MSC’s free online course on avalanche.net.nz but nothing replaces in-person training. 

  2. Get the gear: On top of your winter gear, you’ll need an avalanche shovel, probe and transceiver—and make sure you know how to use them. 

  3. Get the forecast: Find regional avalanche forecasts on the advisory.

 

Photo: Malcolm McRae