The mountains in winter: risks and prevention | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Tourism

In the mountains of the Southern Alps, knowing the various risks

To avoid your love of the mountains becoming a love-hate relationship, it’s best to take a few precautions.

– For example, the mountains are particularly unstable. They’re famous for their weather conditions, which can change extremely fast. A sunny day can turn into a snowstorm, a thunderstorm, or thick fog. So there’s a risk of getting lost, not being able to move forward, or even of hypothermia.

– They can also change in an instant, and an avalanche is easily set off on the slopes. This is generally the case after heavy snowfall or during episodes of milder weather, when it’s the most sensitive: rain, wind, and skiers become high triggering risks. So it’s very important to know the avalanche risk level before any outings.

– They can be treacherous and cause falls or slides on slippery or rugged terrain (snow, ice, rain). At high altitudes, the slightest slide can become a very serious accident if it results in falling into a ravine, on an ice plaque or rocks. Be very careful!

– They can make you dizzy: the lack of oxygen caused by altitude, combined with an intense effort, can set off dizzy spells, especially in people who don’t have much training or who are subject to mountain sickness. It is therefore essential to assess your physical fitness level before launching into high-mountain activities.

Before setting out: be informed

Once you have grasped the surprises that the mountains may have in store, it is very important to know how to anticipate them. On the one hand, find out all about the weather conditions or the avalanche risk, so you can put off your outing if bad weather is forecasted, and on the other, find out about the itinerary itself, to see precisely where you will be going, if the trail is safe, and if there are areas to avoid…

And where do I find all this information before setting out?

From the local tourist offices: they know all the weather conditions, the risk of avalanches, and also the recommended routes. They also offer or sell maps and brochures.
On specialised weather bulletin websites such as Météo France, MeteoBlue or Météo Montagne, which give detailed forecasts for the mountains, particularly on the avalanche risk and snow conditions.
From the mountain guides and local professionals: they know the terrain perfectly and can not only orient you to the safest routes but also take you on a secure itinerary or teach you safety techniques. Whether you’re in the Queyras, the Écrins, the Mercantour or any other mountain range in the Sud region, you can always find a Bureau des Guides for information.
Via specialized applications and sites such as Visorando, Strava or IGN Rando, which can also be very useful for preparing your route and seeing if other users have warned of danger, points of attention, or particular difficulties…

Before the outing: be well-prepared

When venturing into the mountains, you should be adequately prepared physically, especially for demanding activities such as mountaineering, off-piste skiing or cross-country skiing. Always choose an itinerary to suit your level and that of your group and don’t overestimate your capacities or those of the others, particularly in difficult terrain or if you are in the high mountains!

From the point of view of equipment and safety, you should have suitable gear: shoes, technical clothing, safety equipment… For example, for outings in snow-covered areas outside resorts, never set off without your avalanche safety kit, an avalanche transceiver, a shovel and a probe. It’s important to have it on you, but it’s even more important to know how to use it, and introductions and training courses are regularly set up in ski resorts such as Aiguilles, Serre-Chevalier, Isola 2000… Setting off with a guide is also a very good way of getting to know the mountains in complete safety. They will teach you and remind you of all the best practices to adopt during your outing.

During the outing: best practices

It is important to remain humble when in nature. Even the most seasoned mountaineers can find themselves in delicate situations! Here are a few basic rules to remember when you set off on an outing in the mountains:

Never set off alone!
Right through your outing, watch how the weather changes.
Know where you are all the time with your map, compass, GPS…
In winter, it is forbidden to go up the runs on cross-country skis or snowshoes: in the daytime, the risk of accidents with skiers is high and at night, you’ll be taking the risk of not being seen by the snow groomer.
In all seasons, always use the signposted areas and respect instructions.
Drink regularly: the altitude, heat and dry cold air increase dehydration through breathing and sweating.
In case of emergency, call 112: give your identity, your location, and your problem… Show the mountain rescue teams that you need help by raising your arms in the air to form a Y.
Last of all, don’t be afraid of giving up if the conditions are not good or if you are too tired.

Because, as the great mountaineer Reinhold Messner used to say: “The mountains beckon you but you have to know when not to answer them” and rather go for a good raclette or a hot chocolate!