See Your Local Avalanche Bulletin Now in FATMAP
Planning your winter adventures safely is a top priority and knowing the current avalanche risk for the area you’re heading into is critical and something that should be easy to access and understand.
Good news! Now, FATMAP users can access the local Avalanche Bulletin directly in the FATMAP app!
Available directly on the Map tab, you can now see the current avalanche bulletin, allowing you to make the best decisions for your day out in the snow and enjoy as much pow as possible.
Read on to find out more…
Available to all users, both free and Explore, you'll find the local avalanche bulletin on the Discover menu on the Map tab. Simply browse to the area of the map and swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access it.
Tap on the relevant avalanche bulletin, and you’ll not only see the current risk level highlighted on the map, but you’ll be able to scroll down to read the full description and open the original forecast at the tap of a button.
New bulletins are usually visible in FATMAP within 15 minutes of their publication by the bulletin organisation and currently bulletins are available from the USA, Canada, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, Norway and Spain.
Tip: combine the information from the Avalanche bulletin with the Custom Layer to highlight specific areas of terrain by aspect, elevation and gradient.
Check out the FAQ guide here and make sure you've updated your FATMAP app to the latest version to access your avalanche bulletin.
5 Backcountry Safety Tips
Images by Dom Daher
So you can plan your mountain adventures with even more confidence, here are five top backcountry safety tips from the avalanche training experts at WEMountain:
1. BE WELL EQUIPPED
Make sure you have the right gear and that you know how to use it! Always adapt your sports and rescue equipment to your plans and abilities. It must be in order, readily available, and familiar. Ambassador and Pro Skier, Anna Smoothy, gives some great tips on gear prep and packing in this article here.
2. BE MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY PREPARED
To minimise the risk of an accident, make sure you're feeling ready both mentally and physically. If you have any doubts or uncertainties, have a rest day instead!
3. BE AWARE OF THE WEATHER
The weather can change very quickly in the mountains. It influences your visibility, ability to orientate, and observe. It can force you to make wrong choices, take wrong routes, or miss specific dangers. Always make sure to adapt your clothing and equipment to the weather, so you are prepared for all enventualities.
- Get your local avalanche bulletin directly in the FATMAP app!
- Join FATMAP Explore and access great benefits with your favourite outdoor brands!
4. KNOW THE TERRAIN WELL
Terrain influences the quality of the snow, decreasing or increasing the risk of avalanche. Check your avalanche bulletin for the orientation of the slopes at risk and make sure you know what kind of terrain you are on.
- Use FATMAP's terrain tools to safely plan your adventure!
5. RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT
Most of the environmental impact of a day in the mountains is due to transport. Wherever possible, regroup in your vehicles or take public transport to go riding.
Bonus - Explore members get the WEMountain OFF-PISTE Course for an exclusive €19.99 instead of €69 if they book before 31st March, 2023.
FATMAP Explore gives you access to many more digital tools and benefits with some of the world’s leading outdoor brands, events, magazines and adventure companies!
See you out there!
Team FATMAP