The Southern Alps of New Zealand is one of the most inhospitable mountain environments in the world, sandwiched between Antarctica and Australia our weather can be extreme, harsh and changeable. These factors also make for a varied and hazardous snowpack, increasing the risk of avalanche. So before you get amongst it check out the following information provide by the Mountain Safety Council.
Attend an avalanche awareness course.
Gather information from books, videos and websites.
Plan your trip route, check weather and snow conditions on avalanche.net.nz
Anticipate your actions. What you want to do often overrides your better judgement.
Check your surroundings for recent avalanche activity, changes in terrain, snowpack and weather.
Learn to recognise avalanche terrain.
Analyse the snowpack stability using recommended tests.
Carry avalanche transceivers, probes and metal-blade shovels.
Travel one at a time across potential avalanche slopes.
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