Australian Avalanche Conditions Reports
Down under they call avi reports "Alpine Travel Advisories" and they have recently changed how they do things. For more details have a read below or check out their new site here.
WEATHER WARNINGS
You will find these two warnings for forecast or prevailing weather conditions. Travel in these conditions is not recommended. In the event of an accident, the weather conditions will hamper and endanger a rescue teams ability to both locate and assist you.
VISIBILITY OBSERVATIONS
Travelling in alpine terrain with compromised visibility without eye protection can lead to temporary and long term vision impairment. A dangerous combined effect takes place, as the optical nerve strives to make sense of the absense of deffinition, in the presence of usually strong UV(B) rays, in a white out the cornea is damaged. Like sunburn on the cornea. Neurologically it malfunctions and begins to fail, resulting in confused messages to the brain. This is a form of disorientation refered to as ‘snow blindness’. Simultaneously, atmoshpheric particles of ice collide with the pupil and can damage the surface of the eye. In some cases creating long term damage and associated vision impairment. In short, always pack high quality sunglasses and goggles (and spare lenses when possible) and wear them the minute the conditions demand them.
SNOW CONDITIONS
We have updated our warnings to be consistent with the international standard. Partly by public demand, also for ease of assessment. It is not without trepidation in that we know, in adding the 'moderate' warning to our matrix we need you, the user, to be aware that this is by no means a 'soft touch' on considerable. In fact compared to our previous rating scale it replaces 'considerable'. Sorry if this is confusing, the stats internationally substantiate this with most incidents occurring under category 'Moderate' warnings. Think of its as 'Moderately considerable' as opposed to 'moderately low', two different things.
A QUICK ROUND UP OF AUSTRALIAN SNOW CONDITIONS
As a flat dry continent, the concept of avalanches in Australia seems quite abstract. The resulting absence of 'Avalanche Safety' culture here has until recently gone unchecked. In the research for this site it turns out that amongst the communities of back country users there are numerous stories of small slides, some close calls and then the news reports of serious incidents. Whilst, luckily for us (compared to our friend across the ditch), avalanches are rare. However incidents are increasing dramatically.
Most likely due to two factors. Lately we have seen the local back country community having a resurgence in size, possibly due to the increasingly prohibitive cost of skiing 'inbounds'. Significant advancements in equipment have created a stronger focus on lines that 'clock up vertical', opposed to lines that join peaks by traversing large expanses of flat terrain. As a community we need to be more aware of the dangers, when and where they are likely to exist. Avalanche forecasting is a well documented science. For those who have travelled to the greater ranges the list below will be familiar, although amended to suit our local conditions. To those who have only began to consider the danger of avalanche terrain close to home, there is no shortage of information here on how to recognise the dangers.
Interestingly, in the last decade, there have been as many serious accidents relating to thick ice crusts amongst walkers and skiers as avalanche. The Australian Alps are subject to extreme variation in conditions. For a bunch of different reasons these weather events result in ice crusts. When these become thick and solid we term it 'Bulletproof' ice or crust. The effect creates terrain akin to the 'white ice' of a glacier. Realistically the use of crampons (& ski crampons) or are the safety measure designed for traversing this terrain. Slipping on relatively flat terrain, and the ensuing slide can seconds later see the victim rapidly accelerate toward steeper terrain and sharp hard obstacles. Articulated snowshoes also incorporate a crampon design. We will issue warnings regarding prevalent ice crusts.