Less risk off-piste: «ski touring guru» convinces in study

Avalanches are the greatest danger in snow sports away from secured pistes. If you plan your tour carefully, you can significantly reduce the risk. The digital planning tool «Skitourenguru» provides reliable support - as a new study by the German Alpine Association's (DAV) safety research team shows. The BFU supports the tool as a partner. At the same time, it emphasizes that technical aids are no substitute for personal assessment in the terrain.

Every year, an average of 29 people die off-piste in Switzerland: 16 on ski tours, nine on off-piste skiing and two each on snowboard and snowshoe tours. Most of these fatal accidents are caused by avalanches. «If you plan your tour carefully, you significantly reduce the risk,» says BFU expert Susanne Baumann.

Tool combines avalanche situation and terrain data

The «Skitourenguru» combines current avalanche reports with detailed terrain data and evaluates thousands of ski tours every day using an algorithm. In a study, the tool's risk assessments were compared with those of mountain guides - with a clear result: Skitourenguru provides reliable assessments.

Compared to other methods, the tool offers more differentiated assessments and thus facilitates tour planning. The ski tour guru excludes fewer routes across the board, especially in the case of significant avalanche danger (level 3 out of 5). Instead, it analyzes tours section by section and specifically points out critical spots. This allows tourers to get a more precise picture of the chosen route.

Experience and knowledge remain crucial

As helpful as the ski tour guru is for planning, it is no substitute for assessing the situation on site. Wind and weather can lead to very different conditions even in a small area. It is therefore crucial to recognize dangers en route and react correctly - regardless of whether you are on skis, snowboard or snowshoes.

Courses run by the SAC or mountain sports schools provide the necessary knowledge. In addition to tour planning and hazard recognition, this also includes the safe use of emergency equipment: avalanche transceivers, probes and shovels. «Regular practice can save lives. An avalanche is an extreme situation. When every second counts, every move has to be right,» emphasizes Susanne Baumann.

After a course, it is important to gain experience on guided tours. «If you then plan your first tours on your own, it's best to choose routes with a low avalanche risk,» recommends Baumann. Thanks to daily updated data, the ski tour guru is a valuable aid - for beginners and advanced skiers alike.