T° Min : 2°C
T° Max : 7°C
Afternoon : Avalanche control
Mountainside snowslides can be fatal. To minimize risk, ski patrollers intentionally trigger avalanches above threatened runs or roads.
Avalanche control
Preventive triggering of avalanches
The skiable area is secured by ski patrollers in accordance with the Plan d’Intervention et de Déclenchement des Avalanches (PIDA). To implement its directives, they use the following means:
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Manually launched charges
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Helicopter
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Catex: once affixed to the cable with a clip, the charge of explosives is transported to the launcher
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Gazex: exploder tubes containing an oxygen-propane gas mixture; these enable an avalanche to be remotely triggered
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Avalancheur: compressed air canon that launches an explosive charge; it enables avalanches to be triggered in hard-to-reach areas
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Avalex®: detonation of remotely inapartmented latex balloons that produces a shockwave.
Only avalanches that threaten runs or roads are triggered preventively.
Avalanche Risk
The sectors of the backcountry area are neither secured, nor marked, nor patrolled. Backcountry skiing is practiced at the skier’s own risk. Carrying an avalanche transceiver is strongly recommended.
At the foot of the runs and at the various ski patrol stations, a flag indicates the level of avalanche risk together with a rating.
Before embarking on a backcountry run, practice using your avalanche transceiver in the special area in Tignes le Lac.
Avalanche control
See also
- > More Action !
- > Ski area
- > Lift passes
