3 tips for a safe and successful off-piste outing

To find the spot, THE best slope, be accompanied. Big slopes, small couloirs, small combs… A specialized instructor will be able to guide you according to your desires and your level to prepare your itinerary. In addition to knowing the area, he will also have the history of snowfall. In Tignes, many ski schools offer “off-piste” sessions.

What is the BERA? BERA is the acronym for Bulletin d’Estimation du Risque d’Avalanche (Avalanche Risk Assessment Bulletin). It is a tool edited by meteorologists every day during the winter allowing to have important information to understand and estimate the avalanche risk in a massif. It will allow you to choose the least exposed slopes and to give you a precise indication of the state of the snow cover.

Off-piste areas are not secured, marked or patrolled. Avalanche rescue equipment will not protect you from avalanches but will increase your chances of survival. It is therefore essential to be equipped and know how to use the equipment:

• Transceiver, shovel, probe: the essential trio. Rescue kit for companions (locating and freeing anyone caught in an avalanche).
• A helmet: essential for skiing on piste and therefore off-piste to protect your head from possible impacts.
• An airbag backpack: this helps you stay on the surface of the snow.
• A charged mobile phone: it may seem crazy in this day and age to have to remind you, but always carry a CHARGED mobile phone (be aware that batteries drain quickly in the cold mountains) in your pocket so you can call for help or report an avalanche.

Knowing how to use your equipment is key. Don’t forget to test it every time you go out. In Tignes, introductory courses and avalanche transceiver training are available with specialist instructors.

One last piece of advice

If conditions are unfavourable, you don’t have the right equipment and/or you simply don’t feel comfortable, give up. The mountains remain a natural environment that can be hostile. Choose optimal safety conditions for off-piste/freeride skiing.

What is RECCO technology? Reflectors & detectors

Reflectors are passive transponders (no battery required) with an unlimited lifespan. They enable rescue teams to locate you. Rescue teams use detectors (with a range of 80 metres in the air and 20 metres in snow). They are used all over the world.

Today, more than 150 brands already incorporate this technology into their products (jackets, trousers, bags, shoes and helmets, etc.), including Decathlon, Patagonia, Helly Hansen, Cairn, Burton, Millet, Kilpi and Colmar. Recco reflectors are also available individually and can be attached to your equipment (helmet, bag, etc.).

How does it work?

1. The RECCO detector emits a directional radar signal, similar to the beam of a torch.
2. When the radar signal encounters the RECCO reflector, it is sent back to the detector, indicating the direction of the victim to rescuers.
3. The closer the detector gets to the reflector, the stronger the signal, allowing rescuers to locate the victim.

The device is evolving

The specialised ‘avalanche rescue’ system is now operational all year round.

Widely used by our European neighbours (Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy and Spain), the RECCO SAR helicopter detector activates searches and rapid rescue of people lost in the wilderness. The principle is the same: detector – reflector.

Attached to a helicopter, the detector was developed to quickly cover large areas. Under normal conditions, the search is carried out at a height of 100 m, covering a 100 m wide corridor at a speed of approximately 100 km/h, allowing rescuers to search 1 km² in about 6 minutes.