Off the Beaten Track

The danger avalanches can pose on the slopes was brought home with the tragic death of three climbers in Scotland on 24 January.

Here Ski Sunday and High Altitude presenter Graham Bell gives some tips and advice about how best to prepare and deal with the perils of avalanches.

By Graham Bell BBC Sport's Ski Sunday & High Altitude presenter

When skis were thin, long and heavy, only experts spent much time in the powder snow as getting down a long off-piste run in deep snow was exhausting and difficult.

But since snowboard technology led the way for a new generation of wider big mountain skis that provide more flotation, it has become possible for any skier or snowboarder with over a month's experience - and a love of adventure and exploration - to head off into the back country away from the icy, crowded pistes.

However, just because it is easier to ski or ride on modern big-mountain skis and snowboards it doesn't mean it is easier to navigate safely through the mountains.

Mountains don't care if you have top of the range equipment, or are an expert rider. Avalanches frequently bury the best prepared and most experienced of mountain people.

So it is necessary to take all the steps you can take to protect yourself.

Always check the weather and snow conditions before going out.

Avalanche risk levels should be posted in the main lift stations and run on a scale from one to five, with one indicating little risk of avalanche and five being extremely dangerous.

As a general rule grade four means stay on the piste and grade five stay in bed, as the lifts will not be running.

Grade three is marginal but skiable if you are aware of the dangers and have an understanding of which slopes are more likely to slide. Grades one and two are generally acceptable but do not forget that conditions can change quickly in the mountains especially at the end of the season.

The three fundamental pieces of kit are the avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe Graham Bell

It is always advisable to ski or ride with a guide as they will be familiar with the local terrain and weather conditions and will be able to tell more accurately where it is safe to ski.

Also, if you're lucky they will chuck in some free tuition and you'll be able to pick up on some of their valuable mountain knowledge.

The guide will ski at the front of the group, do not in any circumstances overtake your guide, and always stop above them.

You never know why they have stopped, they may be standing above a crevasse or cliff. If you can't afford a guide, try and ski in a group of four to five so you can help each other in the event of an accident.

The most experienced skier should lead, with the second most experienced bringing up the rear to pick up anyone struggling or who has fallen.

There are a few simple rules.

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Never ski or ride alone.

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Only put one person at risk at any one time.

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Be aware of other groups on the mountain, wait till people below have moved out of the danger zone before dropping in.

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Always let people back at base know where you are going.

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Have the right equipment.

The three fundamental pieces of kit are the avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe.

The transceiver will save your life, and the shovel and probe are there to save your friends.

Practise using your transceivers, bury one in the snow and search for it, (do not forget to turn it on).

Mountain search and rescue teams provide a crucial service on the slopes

If you witness an avalanche or one or more of your party are taken by a slip, the first thing to do is work out exactly how many people have been buried, and where you last saw them.

The remaining skiers on the surface must then all turn their transceivers to receive mode otherwise their transmitting transceiver will interfere with the search.

It is far easier to search as you work your way down the mountain, if you have a group work down as a team, if not then zig-zag down across the slip.

Remember that one minute going downhill will equate to five minutes when coming back up so try to isolate signals laterally across the slope before descending.

Transceivers emit beeps and some flash lights which guide you towards a buried skier. Use the probe to pin-point them and assess how deep they are buried, then get digging.

Do not waste any time, and if you are short on people do not bother sending one away for help, the majority of avalanche victims will die after half an hour of burial.

It is a myth that shouting sets off avalanches, feel free to shout as loud as you can for help.

If the worst happens, and you are the one that is caught by an avalanche, the first thing to do is look to either side, and if you can make it to the edge, do it quickly.

If not then do your best to out-run it, point your skis straight and try to get ahead of the slip.

In a large avalanche the chances of this succeeding are slim. When the avalanche knocks you over, try to kick off your skis and swim to stay on the surface as hard as you can.

All you can do is wait to be dug out Graham Bell

Because most victims of avalanche die from suffocation, it's important to protect your airway, keep your mouth closed and cross arms over your head to create a pocket of air.

If you are buried when the snow comes to a stop, it will feel like you are set in concrete. Try not to panic and keep your breathing as shallow as you can, this will preserve precious oxygen.

All you can do is wait to be dug out.

There are two other pieces of avalanche survival kit that have recently come onto the market. ABS rucksacks have built in airbags that explode out when you pull a rip handle - your extra buoyancy will keep you from being buried.

Remember, though, that they are not a total fail-safe, and will not save you from being driven into trees or swept off a cliff.

The other less expensive option is the Avalung, which is designed to stop you suffocating, which can happen within 10 minutes of burial.

It is a kind of snorkel that takes air in from your chest area then exhausts the CO2 you exhale away behind you. It will not stop you from being buried so you are relying on your friends to dig you out before you die of cold.

Avalanches are not the only dangers on the mountain. If you are venturing away from the ski area, other essential bits of kit to have in your backpack include a survival bag, spare thermal layer, spare gloves, first aid kit, candle and matches, food and water, mobile phone and a whistle.

If for any reason you do get stuck on the mountain dig a snow hole and wait it out. Moving around the mountain in darkness is disorientating and potentially lethal.

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Ski Sunday is on at 1700 GMT on BBC Two on Sundays and High Altitude follows at 2200 GMT.