landscape dolines cembraie la plagne on snowshoes

mountain safety

Mountain safety when the weather changes very quickly

The mountain climate is harsh and unpredictable. Without even mentioning the most hostile conditions that can be found on certain mountains on the planet, the alpine summits are capricious and do not let themselves be easily dominated. In the mountains, the watchwords are patience and humility. The weather here is changeable, and you can go from dry and sunny to wet and foggy in no time.


It is necessary that find out about the weather before each outing in the mountains or even before a few ski descents on a secure area. Marmots do not eat humans lost in the fog, but it would be a shame to get lost in the mountains, especially in the middle of winter when the thermometer can easily reach -20 degrees at night.

mountain safety
Watch the weather to enjoy your stay in the mountains safely (Darius Krause)

Safety in the mountains when you have to find your way on skis in the fog

If the fog was faster than your spatulas, there are a few tricks to avoid ending up deep in a valley or in a crevasse. For example, the stakes at the edge of the slopes, called milestones, are good indicators. The color of a track's markers indicates its category and therefore its level of difficulty (green, blue, red, black).

If they are yellow and black in wide, alternating bands, they signal danger.

To know if you are still on the track or off it, just look at the top of the markers: those located to the right of the track in the direction of descent have a fluorescent orange device.

In the case of reduced visibility, it is also important to descend slowly. In lack of visual cues, the balance is more unstable and injuries can quickly occur!

Have a piste map in paper version on oneself is also necessary, because when one manages to see a sign indicating the tracks, one can easily determine where one is!

mountain safety
A fluo stake delimits the track on the right in the direction of the descent (@magicbastos)

The advice tolisten to discover the mountain in complete safety

The mountain is above all common sense. It is a living, unpredictable natural space, resulting from the very activity of the earth. The mountain is movement: sliding snow, rolling stones, dancing terrain... It's beautiful but it can be dangerous!

The most important thing is to remain humble in the face of this dominant nature. This is'listen what she has to tell us, what mountain professionals advise, and to listen to yourself.

If you don't feel like a skier today, forget the spatulas, there are plenty of other activities to do in the mountains!

Ltips for skiing in the mountains in complete safety

For sliders, the safety rules are simple: respect the skiers and snowboarders located below (downstream), control your speed and trajectory, and slow down when approaching a beginners' area and near the tails of the ski lifts at the bottom of the slopes. It wouldn't be a question of reproducing the scene of Les Bronzés are skiing when Jérôme does the domino with the queue in front of the chairlift!

It is also necessary to ensure don't stop anywhere, as behind a bump offering no visibility, respect the signs and respect all users, in particular disabled skiers whose maneuvers are more difficult to perform.

And of course, be sure to stay on the slopes and seek the advice and support of a professional if you wish to venture off-piste (not to mention the appropriate safety equipment). Don't forget that every year avalanches occur off piste and unfortunately carry away novices and experienced skiers.

The emergency number to call mountain rescue: 112

Good to know, the European emergency number to call mountain rescue is the 112.

The number is easy to remember, the call is free and it allows you to be geolocated.

However, this requires having a network...

If ever, know that you can also contact the emergency services by SMS at number 114. This number was designed mainly for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Mountain safety for maximumm of fun!

Do not hesitate to share these tips with your loved ones to enjoy a serene and rejuvenating holiday in our beautiful mountains!

Let yourself be seduced by memories of our customers and come and test all-inclusive cabin vacations in winter.

Leonore Rizzo
Leonore Rizzo

Passionate about outdoor sports and nature, I am committed to transmitting these values ​​to our travelers Pointe de Sel. I want them to discover the mountain with the same amazed eyes with which I admire the peaks every day.

Posts: 5

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