{"id":39112,"date":"2023-11-17T03:44:30","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T02:44:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/?p=39112"},"modified":"2025-12-03T15:20:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T14:20:12","slug":"robert-bolognesi-freerider-and-snow-scientist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/en\/robert-bolognesi-freerider-and-snow-scientist\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview: Robert Bolognesi, Freerider and Snow Scientist"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"39112\" class=\"elementor elementor-39112\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8fd813c elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8fd813c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6cf6857\" data-id=\"6cf6857\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-5074716 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5074716\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-b4aac31\" data-id=\"b4aac31\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dc56aa7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dc56aa7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.16.0 - 09-10-2023 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Interview: Robert Bolognesi, Freerider and Snow Scientist<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-dd71416 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"dd71416\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1fc4da3\" data-id=\"1fc4da3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5fe460b elementor-author-box--layout-image-left elementor-author-box--align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-author-box\" data-id=\"5fe460b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"author-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/elementor-pro\/assets\/css\/widget-theme-elements.min.css\">\t\t<div class=\"elementor-author-box\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.mathieuros.fr%20\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"elementor-author-box__avatar\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/6391d763c589e-bpfull.webp\" alt=\"Mathieu Ros Medina\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-author-box__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.mathieuros.fr%20\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-author-box__name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMathieu Ros Medina\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-author-box__bio\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p> Mathieu Ros Medina is a passionate skier, snowboarder and mountain enthusiast with more than 15 years of experience as a journalist in these fields.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7dae48c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7dae48c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.16.0 - 09-10-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><em>Robert Bolognesi is truly passionate about snow. As an avalanche specialist with doctorates in geography (Universit\u00e9 Grenoble Alpes, 1991) and computer science (EPFL, 1999), he travels the Alps and mountain ranges around the world. In the 1980s, he helped develop ski resorts and has since created methods for publishing local avalanche bulletins, improved road safety (through his Meteorisk consulting firm) and laid the groundwork for whole areas of study in applied snow and avalanche modeling. He is the author and publisher of many books on avalanches, a conference speaker, a programmer, a statistician, and a ski patroller and avalanche blaster. But he is first and foremost an all-round skier with a very personal vision of freedom. This summer, we met him on a terrace high atop Col de la Forclaz and right alongside the Col des Montets mountain road he kept safe for 15 years.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b0f3061 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b0f3061\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.16.0 - 09-10-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/DomDaher_2011_0307.jpg\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048 wp-image-41474\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/DomDaher_2011_0307.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/DomDaher_2011_0307-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/DomDaher_2011_0307-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/DomDaher_2011_0307-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/DomDaher_2011_0307-624x416.jpg 624w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/DomDaher_2011_0307-50x33.jpg 50w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/DomDaher_2011_0307-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/DomDaher_2011_0307-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ca53a88 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ca53a88\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Mathieu Ros (MR): For starters, could you tell us what set you on your career path?<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Robert Bolognesi (RB):<\/strong> I love snow! I started as a ski patroller at Alpe d\u2019Huez. Strapping my skins onto my 205 mm Rossignol 3Gs and clicking my Dynafit 3F boots into my Securafixes, I\u2019d head to work. It was all incredibly heavy, but I kept telling myself, \u201cIt\u2019ll be great on the way down.\u201d Early on, I got interested in modelling avalanche risk. So I started programming. Since the mountains are a natural environment, people think that they can just sense things. In reality, those are subjective findings that can be mathematically defined. And I\u2019ve always tried to expand my theoretical knowledge and see if it aligns with my field observations.<\/p><p><strong>MR: Does that mean you trust the computer more than a guide? Don\u2019t you value backcountry experience?<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>RB:<\/strong> Of course I value the experience and intuition of backcountry guides! But their job is to get people to a specific place and bring them back in the best of conditions. All without incident. They can choose their route and change it if needed. For forecasters, that\u2019s not an option. They can\u2019t move a road or village to keep it safe. Instead, they have to predict when an avalanche will occur, how big it\u2019ll be and how far down it\u2019ll get. And for that, there\u2019s no better tool than a computer.<\/p><p>In other words, for the best avalanche forecasts, you need experience AND theoretical knowledge AND data AND powerful software.<\/p><p><strong>MR: Is avalanche forecasting an exact science? Do avalanche bulletins reflect that?<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>RB:<\/strong> We\u2019re definitely a bit better at forecasting now than we were 30 years ago! And the bulletin is always improving. But it only provides general information. It\u2019s like a sign by a forest that says \u201cDeer spotted\u201d one day and \u201cTigers on the prowl\u201d the next. That tells people they\u2019re around but doesn\u2019t say where. It\u2019s a summary, but one that\u2019s very valuable to novice adventurers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-e9e9592 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e9e9592\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-aa89cfe\" data-id=\"aa89cfe\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e9ff87a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e9ff87a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/JHeitz_ScottWeek_DDaher_0353-2048x1365.jpg\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048 wp-image-41484\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/JHeitz_ScottWeek_DDaher_0353-scaled.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/JHeitz_ScottWeek_DDaher_0353-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/JHeitz_ScottWeek_DDaher_0353-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/JHeitz_ScottWeek_DDaher_0353-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/JHeitz_ScottWeek_DDaher_0353-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/JHeitz_ScottWeek_DDaher_0353-624x416.jpg 624w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/JHeitz_ScottWeek_DDaher_0353-50x33.jpg 50w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/JHeitz_ScottWeek_DDaher_0353-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/JHeitz_ScottWeek_DDaher_0353-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ec16ed elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2ec16ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>MR: You helped create the European Avalanche Danger Scale. Could you tell us about that?<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>RB:<\/strong> I was involved as an auditor, making observations and suggestions.<\/p><p>In the early 90s, people were backcountry skiing more than ever before \u2013 and not only in their own regions. But every country used a different scale, which made things confusing. It was the dawn of the European Union, which brought new prospects of scientific collaboration. So the time was ripe for a standardized European avalanche danger scale.<\/p><p>The project was exciting, but fraught with tough negotiations and drama. The Swiss weren\u2019t keen on an eight-level scale because that\u2019s what the French had previously used. And naturally, the French didn\u2019t want the seven-level scale used in Switzerland! And no one wanted nine levels \u2013 too complicated! \u2013 or six levels without a midpoint. Ultimately, they settled on a five-level scale. The problem with this scale is that the first level isn\u2019t very useful. It\u2019s basically only used when there\u2019s no snow and you can\u2019t ski (actually, it\u2019s better now). And you don\u2019t need Level 5 because you\u2019d have to be nuts not to understand how extreme the danger is. Anyway, there\u2019d be so much snow that the roads into the mountains would be closed. That leaves Levels 2, 3 and 4. And that\u2019s not enough. So they decided to add subdivisions, which is what the Swiss started doing last winter. To change the scale Europe-wide, you\u2019d have to bring all of the countries together \u2013 and get<\/p><p>them all to agree! So I like the subdivision idea. It adds precision without having to scrap everything. Level 2+ may not be essential, but 3+ and 4+ provide significantly more precision. It goes 2+, 3-, 3=, 3+, and so on. But will people use the finer resolution properly? Many would say that while the tools have improved, it\u2019s still the same people using them. But in defence of bulletin writers, deciding on the level of danger is challenging. It depends on both snowpack stability and avalanche size. So, Level 4 could mean many medium-sized avalanches or a few very large ones. You have to read the entire bulletin to get the full picture.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d7c9ff1 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d7c9ff1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/LaListe_JHeitz_DomDaher_5450.jpg\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048 wp-image-41488\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/LaListe_JHeitz_DomDaher_5450.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/LaListe_JHeitz_DomDaher_5450-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/LaListe_JHeitz_DomDaher_5450-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/LaListe_JHeitz_DomDaher_5450-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/LaListe_JHeitz_DomDaher_5450-624x416.jpg 624w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/LaListe_JHeitz_DomDaher_5450-50x33.jpg 50w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/LaListe_JHeitz_DomDaher_5450-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/LaListe_JHeitz_DomDaher_5450-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e35291 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3e35291\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>MR: Do you think that smartphone mapping apps could be a solution?<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>RB:<\/strong> Maybe in the future, but not today. Skiers need to understand the danger on the slope they\u2019re about to descend. And the bulletin won\u2019t tell you that, even if you know the incline and direction of the slope. Many local factors affect snowpack stability, but they\u2019re not currently measured or easily calculated. In addition, some avalanches are driven by past weather events, which makes them really hard to predict without local analysis. Here\u2019s an example. Three weeks into a very dry and cold early season, the snowpack is still quite thin. A weak layer of snow forms on north-facing slopes. Time passes, then some major late-season avalanches surprise everyone. This is what happened during this year\u2019s Xtreme Verbier. On Bec des Rosses, the snowpack was taken right down to ground level despite relatively moderate snowfall.<\/p><p>But in models, you have to simplify the phenomena and limit the amount of data. Otherwise, each situation becomes a unique case, which makes learning impossible. Unless you have a massive database, more detailed descriptions just make the model less effective. Today, although avalanche science is well understood, so many factors are involved that it remains very hard to put them into application. That\u2019s why local forecasting on your phone is still a long way off.<\/p><p><strong>MR: So you\u2019re saying that the models are advanced but involve too many factors to be useful to backcountry skiers?<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>RB:<\/strong> Exactly. In the future, considering the amazing advances in AI, the models could become a skier\u2019s best friend. Until that happens, they\u2019ll need to keep analyzing conditions themselves. That means knowing the most important factors that describe the snow and weather conditions, the topography and geography, and their group. Armed with that information, they can score the local danger. By choosing those factors wisely to determine the probability and potential damage of an avalanche, they\u2019ll have a well-founded analysis to make an informed decision.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd9e976 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"fd9e976\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/NicoVuignier_Lauchernalp_DomDaher_3531-2048x1365.jpg\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048 wp-image-41490\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/NicoVuignier_Lauchernalp_DomDaher_3531-scaled.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/NicoVuignier_Lauchernalp_DomDaher_3531-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/NicoVuignier_Lauchernalp_DomDaher_3531-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/NicoVuignier_Lauchernalp_DomDaher_3531-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/NicoVuignier_Lauchernalp_DomDaher_3531-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/NicoVuignier_Lauchernalp_DomDaher_3531-624x416.jpg 624w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/NicoVuignier_Lauchernalp_DomDaher_3531-50x33.jpg 50w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/NicoVuignier_Lauchernalp_DomDaher_3531-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/NicoVuignier_Lauchernalp_DomDaher_3531-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-04dd92d elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"04dd92d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>MR: Have you ever been in avalanche conditions? As the saying goes, the shoemaker\u2019s children go barefoot, but if you\u2019re guiding me, I\u2019ll be safe, right?<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>RB:<\/strong> Yes, I have. Only on a few rare occasions, but that\u2019s nothing to be proud of. If you close a popular route, it can paralyze an entire region. You have to be sure of your decision. And the only way to be sure is to collect data at its start points. In such cases, I\u2019d have a helicopter drop me off between two peaks, look for a safe route through the rocks and tie off a rope to descend the slope a little. I\u2019d take snowpit profiles and collect all relevant data. If I considered the snowpack to be stable enough, I\u2019d ski down. If not, I\u2019d get the helicopter to pick me up because not only could I get swept away, but I could trigger another avalanche on the way down. I didn\u2019t do that kind of high-risk work very often.<\/p><p><strong>MR: Italy has been very aggressive with recent lawsuits against skiers who start avalanches. What are your thoughts on that?<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>RB:<\/strong> I think there should be temporary no-go areas, for instance above lift loading zones, where an avalanche could easily kill dozens of people. I know backcountry enthusiasts hate those kinds of restrictions, but I believe a few sensitive areas should be closed off so that other areas can stay open. Otherwise, there\u2019ll be a massive accident someday and we\u2019ll see what a real crackdown looks like.<\/p><p>But I don\u2019t think starting an avalanche is in itself a crime provided skiers are positive before hitting a slope that triggering a slide won\u2019t cause any damage. However, courts enforce the law and we have to comply.<\/p><p><strong>MR: How does skiing compare with scuba diving, where you need certification?<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>RB:<\/strong> Certification does help, since there are fewer accidents. But as long as no one else gets harmed, I don\u2019t mind if skiers decide to take risks. Having proper and up-to-date training, information and gear is key for all outdoor activities, but I don\u2019t like when things are strictly prohibited or enforced, without nuance.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cceaf70 elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"cceaf70\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/87V1548.jpg\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048 wp-image-41486\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/87V1548.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/87V1548-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/87V1548-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/87V1548-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/87V1548-624x416.jpg 624w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/87V1548-50x33.jpg 50w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/87V1548-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/87V1548-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f824085 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f824085\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>MR: Some resorts are like that. In Japan, you need an off-piste permit and transceiver training before you can hit the slopes.<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>RB:<\/strong> That\u2019s really excessive. If you\u2019re stuck in an avalanche, there\u2019s a one in two chance you\u2019ll die, even with a transceiver. It\u2019s like counting on a lifebuoy in the middle of the ocean. I think you should do everything to avoid triggering an avalanche and especially to avoid harming someone else. We have a duty of care toward others, not just a duty to rescue, but we should still be free to decide how to protect ourselves.<\/p><p><strong>MR: Safety gear and training have really advanced the sport\u2026<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>RB:<\/strong> It\u2019s all fantastic stuff. That\u2019s why I was delighted to help Dominique Perret with WEMountain. It\u2019s great that people can get quality training. It\u2019s great to keep them informed, so even though the avalanche bulletin isn\u2019t perfect, it\u2019s a precious resource. I just object to throwing around words like \u201cmandatory\u201d and \u201cprohibited.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Robert Bolognesi is truly passionate about snow. As an avalanche specialist with doctorates in geography (Universit\u00e9 Grenoble Alpes, 1991) and computer science (EPFL, 1999), he travels the Alps and mountain ranges around the world. In the 1980s, he helped develop ski resorts and has since created methods for publishing local avalanche bulletins, improved road safety (through his Meteorisk consulting firm) and laid the groundwork for whole areas of study in applied snow and avalanche modeling. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":146,"featured_media":59795,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[563],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39112","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39112","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/146"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39112"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39112\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59795"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39112"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39112"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/w3mountain.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}