Backcountry gear in resorts in Europe

[tjb]

Fellows,

I'm off to ski Europe for the first time, I'll be hitting up Andermatt Switzerland and Innsbruck ski areas. I've skied extensively in British Columbia, where many people wear beacons in the resort, and take shovel and probe when skiing out of bounds. Obviously, all the avy kit is actually taken when ski touring proper.

I've got pretty stringent weight limits on the airline over, but my beacon is definitely in my bag. What about shovel and probe, should I also take them or can they be hired in towns over there ? I get the impression that in Europe people tend to ski the offpiste off lifts and aren't as prepared as they would be in Canada. Can anyone offer their experiences ?

TIA!

tjb

[ak_powder_monkey]

Strap them to your carryon! Have fun, be safe

[truth]

Strap them to your carryon! Have fun, be safe

You get dumber by the minute. Do not try to get through security with large blunt metal objects strapped to your carry on. Bring whatever you got if you're heading off-piste, and then ya might even what a guide. Off piste in the euro zone is a bit diff than BC. You can always buy or maybe rent a shovel and probe in euroland but that's kinda leaving it up in the air. I brought mine to La Grave last year.

[Ferniefreeheels]

If it was me I would take my bc gear. From what I understand (from Europeans I've skiied with) you get off the groomers and snow safety is up to you. Very little avi control etc., make your own evaluations and decisions on what is safe to ski.

Hope you have a blast!! But be safe man!

[splat]

Europe is off-piste. Take it all and carry it all the time.
I wouldn't think you can rent a strap-on for hygenic reasons.
(following the trend of obtuse, irrelevant posts here)

[ulty_guy]

definitley take it all and use it. a lot of the goods at andermatt are off the backside and out of other drainages that aren't patrolled. you wouldn't want to be caught out there without the right equipment.

[edg]

I think it's definitely fair to say, for the most part, that off-piste is considered a lot more lightly in the Alps than in the US. Though in recent years, esp. since 1999, there appear to be more efforts by resorts to improve their safety (Chamonix employs extensive GAZEX and CATEX systems above Brévent, Flégère, Grands Montets and La Tour). However, as said above most of these areas aren't patrolled (though again, many resorts have become very active - they often send up patrollers if they see someone struggling). Basically, most slopes than have run-outs on pistes are fairly well controlled, but for anything more exciting: it's your life.

edg

[Hicks]

Depends on what you are up for.
When sticking to the stashes right besides the groomers you sometimes don't necessarily need it, same if you venture into the remote backcountry just on your own (which for me is frickin' stupid but I don't know you).
Else: definitely bring or rent it if you want to leave the marked runs.

[TeleAl]

I live in Switzerland, and I just skied Andermatt this week.

Spent 3 days in Hospental, where the Youth Hostel is.
Have fun, it is a nice mountain.

As for your question:
Bring your beacon, shovel and probe. You will want them for skiing in the controlled area of the mountain, you will need them in some resorts over here, and if you are out-of-bounds, you will want them.

I know no stores renting shovels, but I could be wrong.

Av control is basically this:
If they open the mountain, they are 'confident' in the snow. If you are on-piste/groomer, you will be safe. As for the unsafe areas/off-piste, you can access many, and no one will stop you from entering them. Some are inside the resort area, and seem inviting. Enter at your own risk.

Basically, you should know what is good for you. And that includes the proper equipment as well as where to ski. And, you cannot blame anyone else if something happens.




This is the parking lot in Andermatt 4 days ago.
Hope it is the same for you too.

[Dromond]

Ooooh flashback to last year. Andermatt is a fun place. The backside is good; and unpatrolled. Definitely bring all the gear.

That's a pretty cushy youth hostel in hospental, too. Spacious, clean, cheap as. What else could you want.

And if you see a yank on tele'ing on homemade spatulas, say hello.

Enjoy! (Jealousy ensuing)

[oosik]

The principle issue is that a beacon only becomes a rescue tool when accompanied with a shovel and ideally a probe.

To not bring a shovel is to say "I don't care about anybody else that gets caught in an avalanche including my best friend". At the same time, if you find a partner over there and choose to ski with them even though they don't carry a shovel, you might as well put dead batteries in your beacon 'cause you obviously don't really care if you get dug out in time.

[tjb]

I've got pretty stringent weight limits on the airline over, but my beacon is definitely in my bag. What about shovel and probe, should I also take them or can they be hired in towns over there ?

Well I can answer the question for Andermatt now I've visited. I missed out on the recent snowfalls but there is always next year ....

It seems the best place in town to hire is called Meyers Sporthaus. They are on Gotthard Straße so if you walk from the main bridge in town to the gondola base you will pass them on your left.

They offer equipment for the following prices (all in CHF)

1 day | 2 day | 3 day | 4 day | 5 day | 14 day | extra per day 14+

beacon 8 14 18 21 24 44 2+
shovel 6 10 13 16 18 30 1+

They also hire AT and telemark equipment, but ski prices are quite steep (40-50 CHF per day for AT with skins, and 20 CHF per day for AT or tele boots)

tjb

[Plakespear]

definitley take it all and use it.

I disagree. I say take it all, and use precautions to avoid having to use it.

[bad_roo]

The principle issue is that a beacon only becomes a rescue tool when accompanied with a shovel and ideally a probe.

My BC jong bro didn't look too clever when he turned up in La Grave this winter with a beacon and no shovel/probe. Rightly got the stink eye from quite a few.