If you don't have the time, the opportunity or simply the inclination to learn to understand the signs that point to dangerous conditions in the mountains, you can rely on reading the weather and avalanche bulletins. This is a service offered by some websites, where you can find out the conditions of the snowpack.
Every morning the officers of the Corpo Forestale dello Stato (State Forestry Corps) go up into our mountains to analyse the snowpack and its state of transformation. For this reason the bulletins are extremely reliable and, although they are intended mainly for skiers, they can be considered valid for hikers and mountaineers too.
Why avalanche forecasting services are useful
Weather and avalanche bulletins give information on the quality of the snow, its state of transformation and any danger of avalanches forming. This danger is indicated on a rising scale from 1 to 5. The higher the degree, the more likely it is that avalanches will form.
European Avalanche Danger Scale.
Five different categories of avalanche danger are in fact distinguished, and each of them is associated with the behaviour to adopt in view of the different level of risk.
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Triggering is generally possible only with high additional loading on very few extreme slopes. Only small natural avalanches are possible. Generally safe conditions for ski tours. |
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Triggering is possible as a result of high additional loading on specifically indicated steep slopes. Large natural avalanches are not expected. Favourable conditions for ski tours, but give due consideration to individual danger zones. |
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Triggering is possible with low additional loading, above all on the steep slopes indicated; in some situations medium-sized natural avalanches are possible and, in isolated cases, large avalanches too. Opportunities for ski tours are limited and good local assessment skills are required. |
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Triggering is probable even with low additional loading on many steep slopes. In some situations many medium-sized natural avalanches are to be expected and, at times, large avalanches too. Opportunities for ski tours are severely limited and great local assessment skills are required. |
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Numerous large natural avalanches are to be expected, even on moderately steep terrain. Ski tours are generally not possible |
Finally, a piece of advice from us: it is an act of intelligence and humility always to follow the advice of the weather bulletins, even when the urge to go to the mountains far outweighs our caution. The mountains don't go away and don't move, there will always be other chances to go back.
Probably all the information you find here will seem, to many, already well known. We believe that repetition on such important subjects is essential for prevention.