Danger! Avalanches!

Climbing and skiing in the Tatra Mountains may be dangerous, especially for those who lacking experience in climbing expose themselves and others to accidents. Passion for climbing a mountain peak urges some people to court danger.
To avoid accidents, especially in the Winter you should:

Prior to going into the mountains take some exercises and long walks, examine your heart - check whether it will tolerate mountain climate and exhaustion.

Prior to going for a hike inquire about weather conditions and avalanches threat in the Tatra Mountains. Remember, even in valleys and popular routes there is a possibility of avalanche threat, as a result of heavy snowing or warmer weather. The Tatra Mountains Guides are always at your service and they ensure safety of your mountain trip.

One can start an avalanche by cutting snow-slope at he base, raising noisy shouts, which generate air bump, or climbing on snow-overhangs. You must avoid climbing on them as well as keep away from gullies and traversing steep mountain-sides. Avalanches most often come down when it is snowing heavily and strong winds are blowing, or when the temperature suddenly rises while a mountain-side is exposed to the sunshine.

You must comply with the avalanche threat TOPR forecasts:

I: degree means that: if it is snowing, one can start an avalanche.

II: if it snowing heavily, there is possibility of an avalanche coming down spontaneously.

III: Possibility of avalanches coming down is all areas above woods border

IV: Avalanche alert; going to the mountains is forbidden.

print this page	e-mail as link	back to home