Take the time to look over this information.
Especially notice the percentages of fatalities associated with the danger level. Once you have read through this please post what level you are comfortable with and why you are comfortable with that level.
- Level 1, Low Danger: The snowpack is generally well bonded or loosely packed and low in stress (typical situation in mid-winter with shallow snow cover). A high additional load is required for artificial triggering, even in extreme terrain (e.g. brought about by explosions or winter sports activities). Human-triggered avalanches are unlikely, but cannot be ruled out entirely. The endangered zones are sparse, mostly limited to extreme terrain, and usually easy to localise.
Natural avalanches rarely occur, apart from small slides and small avalanches in steep terrain.
About 6 per cent of all fatalities occur at this danger level.
- Level 2, Moderate Danger: The snowpack is only moderately bonded in some places, as generally indicated in detail in the Avalanche Bulletin by reference to the altitude zone, aspect or type of terrain. Provided that routes are selected carefully, the conditions for winter sports activities are generally favourable. The possibility of an avalanche being triggered cannot be disregarded, however, especially in the presence of a large additional load (see Chapter 8.3.2). Moreover, avalanches can be released even by a small additional load on steep slopes with less favourable snowpack conditions (see Chapter 8.3.2).
For transportation routes and settlements there is hardly any danger of natural avalanches since these occur only in isolation, if at all. Safety measures are also generally unnecessary on marked and open pistes.
About 30 per cent of all fatalities occur at this danger level.
- Level 3, Considerable Danger: The snowpack is only moderately to weakly bonded in many places. Triggering is possible even with low additional loads, especially on steep slopes in the indicated aspects and altitude zones (see Chapter 8.3.2). Isolated slab avalanches can be released even from well outside the starting zone (remote triggering).
The danger of natural avalanches can vary greatly; in case of weak snowpack layering and shallow snow cover, medium-sized avalanches are to be anticipated only sporadically. If this danger level is announced after new snow or in connection with (daytime) warming, however, isolated large avalanches are likely as well, depending on the influence of the weather. Such conditions give rise to the use of explosives (especially in the case of new snow) or temporary closures (especially if temperatures are expected to rise) for exposed parts of transportation routes and, above all, the ski slopes that are subject to protection by technical measures. Backcountry touring and freeriding activities are inadvisable without experience and the ability to assess avalanche danger. Steep slopes in the indicated aspect and altitude zone are to be avoided as far as possible.
About 45 per cent of all fatalities occur at this danger level.
- Level 4, High Danger: The snowpack is weakly bonded in most places. Triggering is probable with even small additional loads, and remote triggering is often possible. Depending on the snowpack and amounts of new snow, many medium-sized natural avalanches and an increasing number of large avalanches can be expected. Sections of transportation routes and settlements in the areas affected by such avalanches are often endangered. Explosions and closures become more and more essential. The conditions outside marked and open pistes are unfavourable.
About 18 per cent of all fatalities occur at this danger level.
- Level 5, very high danger: The snowpack is generally weakly bonded and therefore largely unstable (consistent with large quantities of new snow and new snow instabilities). Extensive weak layers can also exist deep in the snowpack; these can fail if exposed to a heavy burden of overlying snow and give rise to large avalanches. Numerous large natural avalanches are to be expected, so that extensive safety measures are required (closure and evacuation etc. in some circumstances). Backcountry touring is not recommended and usually impossible in any case.
Fatalities occur at this danger level most often in winters with large avalanches, as in 1951, 1968, 1975, 1984 and 1999, and comprise about 1% of total fatalities.
Especially notice the percentages of fatalities associated with the danger level. Once you have read through this please post what level you are comfortable with and why you are comfortable with that level.
- Level 1, Low Danger: The snowpack is generally well bonded or loosely packed and low in stress (typical situation in mid-winter with shallow snow cover). A high additional load is required for artificial triggering, even in extreme terrain (e.g. brought about by explosions or winter sports activities). Human-triggered avalanches are unlikely, but cannot be ruled out entirely. The endangered zones are sparse, mostly limited to extreme terrain, and usually easy to localise.
Natural avalanches rarely occur, apart from small slides and small avalanches in steep terrain.
About 6 per cent of all fatalities occur at this danger level.
- Level 2, Moderate Danger: The snowpack is only moderately bonded in some places, as generally indicated in detail in the Avalanche Bulletin by reference to the altitude zone, aspect or type of terrain. Provided that routes are selected carefully, the conditions for winter sports activities are generally favourable. The possibility of an avalanche being triggered cannot be disregarded, however, especially in the presence of a large additional load (see Chapter 8.3.2). Moreover, avalanches can be released even by a small additional load on steep slopes with less favourable snowpack conditions (see Chapter 8.3.2).
For transportation routes and settlements there is hardly any danger of natural avalanches since these occur only in isolation, if at all. Safety measures are also generally unnecessary on marked and open pistes.
About 30 per cent of all fatalities occur at this danger level.
- Level 3, Considerable Danger: The snowpack is only moderately to weakly bonded in many places. Triggering is possible even with low additional loads, especially on steep slopes in the indicated aspects and altitude zones (see Chapter 8.3.2). Isolated slab avalanches can be released even from well outside the starting zone (remote triggering).
The danger of natural avalanches can vary greatly; in case of weak snowpack layering and shallow snow cover, medium-sized avalanches are to be anticipated only sporadically. If this danger level is announced after new snow or in connection with (daytime) warming, however, isolated large avalanches are likely as well, depending on the influence of the weather. Such conditions give rise to the use of explosives (especially in the case of new snow) or temporary closures (especially if temperatures are expected to rise) for exposed parts of transportation routes and, above all, the ski slopes that are subject to protection by technical measures. Backcountry touring and freeriding activities are inadvisable without experience and the ability to assess avalanche danger. Steep slopes in the indicated aspect and altitude zone are to be avoided as far as possible.
About 45 per cent of all fatalities occur at this danger level.
- Level 4, High Danger: The snowpack is weakly bonded in most places. Triggering is probable with even small additional loads, and remote triggering is often possible. Depending on the snowpack and amounts of new snow, many medium-sized natural avalanches and an increasing number of large avalanches can be expected. Sections of transportation routes and settlements in the areas affected by such avalanches are often endangered. Explosions and closures become more and more essential. The conditions outside marked and open pistes are unfavourable.
About 18 per cent of all fatalities occur at this danger level.
- Level 5, very high danger: The snowpack is generally weakly bonded and therefore largely unstable (consistent with large quantities of new snow and new snow instabilities). Extensive weak layers can also exist deep in the snowpack; these can fail if exposed to a heavy burden of overlying snow and give rise to large avalanches. Numerous large natural avalanches are to be expected, so that extensive safety measures are required (closure and evacuation etc. in some circumstances). Backcountry touring is not recommended and usually impossible in any case.
Fatalities occur at this danger level most often in winters with large avalanches, as in 1951, 1968, 1975, 1984 and 1999, and comprise about 1% of total fatalities.
