After what the Red Cross characterizes as “the most dramatic approach to Easter in several years”, there has been an influx of heated exchange of words about responsibility and risk in the mountains. In an article in Nordlys, Nikolai Schirmer (from the news series “Exposed”) writes that senior doctor Mads Gilbert “stands in the way of a constructive discussion about how to prevent foreign ski tourists ending up in avalanches”. The background is that long-distance travelers – who have invested a lot in the trip and have a limited time window to think about it – are overrepresented in the accident statistics. Many people therefore want to go “harder” and ban traffic in selected mountain areas on particularly landslide-prone days. The argument is that a ban sends a clearer signal to ski tourists, and relieves them of having to make their own, difficult assessments. But a round of calls to Norwegian skiing and aid organizations shows that the idea of a traffic ban is very far behind. – A ban is a breach of Norwegian tradition, says Marino Ask, former tour team leader in Sogn og Fjordane. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) will strengthen preparedness and go through the notification routines. – We have the technological opportunity, so we will get this in place, he says to news. Photo: Roy Kenneth S Jacobsen / news – Allemannsretten is sacred Several of those news spoke to refer to allemannsretten as a national mark of nobility and a “sacred principle” that must never waver. – We have thought that a traffic ban can be effective if it is possible to introduce it very locally and for a very limited period. But it will be very difficult to enforce, says Rune Verpe Engeset, who is in charge of the avalanche warning in Norway. He refers to a number of practical problems with a traffic ban: How should it be defined geographically? When will it end? How should it be enforced? What about the part of the mountain that is not avalanche terrain? Is the possible preventive effect large enough to outweigh the value of freedom and access to nature? Some of the proposals for stricter rules to reduce accident statistics Establish a national competence center for avalanche preparedness Establish a common push notification system for telephones Introduce a requirement for a paid tourist visa for foreign tourists going to the mountains for skiing and snowboarding Introduce a requirement for an internationally certified guide when guiding in avalanche terrain Increase the training of Norwegian, internationally approved summit and ski course leaders Create a national standard for the content of notifications Introduce zero vision for the number of people who die from avalanches (such as in road traffic) Strengthen research into how people are prevented from going to the mountains on postponed days despite knowledge of avalanche danger He concludes with that there is “probably more to be gained from other and less invasive measures”. In the discussion related to base hopping, the Ministry of Justice has stated that it is voluntary to expose yourself to risks in Norwegian nature, and that rescue operations are free. – Allemannsretten is not just “sacred”, it is woven into the whole way of life in mountain Norway, says president of the Norwegian Climbing Association, Stein Tronstad. Photo: NKF President of the Norwegian Climbing Association, Stein Tronstad, makes a point that there are around ten times as many drownings in Norway, without anyone discussing “traffic bans” on the sea for that reason. – Allemannsretten is not just a sacred law, it is woven into the whole way of living in mountain Norway. People live among and use the mountains. Therefore, neither traffic bans, certificate requirements, visa requirements nor moralism will work. – What works is information, information and information, he says. He points out that the number of people killed in avalanches in Norway has remained stable since the 1980s, at the same time as “traffic” has increased tenfold. – The frequency of accidents has therefore fallen dramatically. People are aware, they know about avalanche warnings, and the vast majority – both Norwegian and foreign tourists – take care of the danger and the safety rules. – A ban will be impossible to carry out in a good way Anne-Mari Planke, head of department for nature and outdoor life in DNT – The avalanche accidents this Easter are terribly tragic, and naturally very burdensome for the relatives, the emergency services and the municipalities. When such fatal accidents occur, it is easy to think that we must introduce stricter traffic rules and traffic bans. DNT is in complete agreement that we must work more on accident prevention, but this should primarily be done through increased knowledge, information and an active presence where people are. – If we are to introduce a ban that violates the rights of the general public, we must think very carefully. The outdoor culture in Norway is based on the fact that everyone is welcome in nature, but that each individual must take responsibility for himself. How will traffic bans affect people’s ability to make their own assessments? Will people think that it is automatically completely safe where there is no ban? If the mountain is to be closed, one must constantly draw boundaries for where it applies and for how long it will apply. It will be impossible to implement in a good way. Furthermore, one must also think about what other proposals for a ban may come in the wake. – Weakens trust in regulatory authorities Landslide researcher at UiT, Audun Hetland, is categorically opposed to a ban and says that the key is to meet the travelers with “good information, expertise and guidance”. – It is difficult to imagine how a possible ban would be enforced and it opens up too many difficult boundaries between when you are in and outside the prohibited area. He adds: – Avalanche danger also changes with conditions, so that what was a dangerous trip one day can be a relatively safe trip the next day. In that case, it would give us a ban zone that is fluid, alternatively you want a ban that doesn’t hit. Both parts weaken trust in regulatory authorities. Seven tips to avoid avalanches 1. Read the avalanche warning for your area. Find out what the different degrees of danger and avalanche problems mean for you when traveling in avalanche terrain. Also read the text “landslide problem” for each warning. It gives more information than just the number. 2. Plan your trip at home. Plan your trip according to weather and snow conditions, and the tour group’s level of experience and knowledge. At the start of the trip, you must also assess whether local snow conditions are different from what you expected. Make a new assessment if the answer is yes. 3. Pay attention to the danger signs of avalanches that nature gives you: fresh avalanches, cracks in the snow surface, drifting from the snow cover under stress. 4. Have good traffic routines. If you have to walk in an avalanche-prone area, do it one at a time or keep a good distance from each other. Stop or wait only in places where you cannot trigger an avalanche, and where you cannot be caught by an avalanche from above. The main rule is to avoid driving in avalanche terrain, i.e. terrain that is steeper than 30 degrees. 5. Be able to recognize avalanche-prone terrain. Where can landslides occur, and how far can landslides go? 6. Always makes well-thought-out road choices. Ask yourself the question “why can I travel here”? 7. Bring the right equipment. When driving in the vicinity of avalanche terrain, you must always have a transmitter or receiver on your body, as well as a search stand, shovel and first aid equipment in your rucksack. Practice using the equipment before you go on a trip. Source: Red Cross. Secretary General of Norwegian People’s Aid, Henriette Killi Westhrin, tells news that they “welcome a broad debate on preventive measures against serious avalanche accidents”. Within this framework, she has two goals: No one should die in an avalanche in Norway. The Allemannsretten must be protected – We are concerned with securing life and health, and at the same time must protect that people can travel freely in Norwegian nature, she says. Reporter Pål Hansen explains what happened on Reinøya in Troms.
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Dispute over whether there should be stricter rules for walking in the mountains – news Vestland
