Deep snow dream or avalanche horror - sometimes the ridge is narrow.
When it comes to avalanche awareness, Ortovox bundles its expertise in a free online academy.
Taufkirchen
– Ideally, a ski tour becomes a dreamlike winter fairy tale.
But it can also end with suffocation under the snow masses of an avalanche - or, in difficult snow conditions, with bad injuries, as national soccer goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from FC Bayern recently had to painfully learn at Spitzingsee (we reported).
In order to prevent such negative experiences and to make ski tours a pleasure, the mountaineering specialists from Ortovox in Taufkirchen have developed a digital knowledge platform.
"Lab Snow" is the name of this free online academy, in which Ortovox, in close cooperation with the Association of German Mountain and Ski Guides (VDBS) and safety and first-aid experts, provides high-quality content on avalanche awareness.
16 video lessons are divided into four chapters:
Types of avalanches and their formation;
planning and risk management;
On tour and looking at the snow cover;
Search for victims and care.
In the introduction to the first chapter it says: “The danger of avalanches is one of the most complex issues in mountaineering.
While other risks can be assessed to some extent, the danger of avalanches often goes unnoticed.” High-ranking experts have their say in order to sensitize not only advanced ski tourers, but also the number of newcomers, which has skyrocketed during the corona crisis.
+
Preparation on the PC at home: In its “Lab Snow”, Ortovox teaches the basics of avalanche awareness.
© Martin Becker
Above all, the alpine safety experts Chris Semmel and Walter Würtl, the avalanche researcher Ben Reuter and the first-aid expert Dani Hornsteiner are behind the elaborately produced content.
In numerous interactive learning modules, they convey a great deal of specialist knowledge about the complex subject of avalanches at a level that gently introduces beginners to the demanding subject and refreshes existing knowledge for advanced learners.
"The 'Ortovox Safety Academy Lab Snow' covers a wide range of avalanche knowledge and is absolutely up to date," says Chris Semmel, long-standing instructor at the VDBS and internationally sought-after alpine expert.
“Many ski tourers are young and grew up completely digital.
It is therefore logical to offer the topic of avalanche information in a perfectly prepared format online – because protection on the mountain is everyone’s business.”
Different types of avalanches, the five danger levels, tips on emergency equipment, risk management and warning signs in the field, all aspects of rescue in the event of a burial: all of this is clearly presented in the "Lab Snow" on the website www.ortovox.com.
However, all theory cannot replace practice, especially practicing with the avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel.
