From Thursday, a significant risk of avalanches has been reported in several places in the country. On Gaustatoppen, the third day of Christmas, two people experienced how dangerous the snow can be. They triggered the avalanche themselves when they were driving down the slopes, according to Mats Volland Finnekås. He is operational manager in Rjukan and Tinn Red Cross. – They were lucky, so they were not taken, and they got out of the avalanche on their own. Expert Torgeir Urdal is an experienced mountain guide and expert on Gaustatoppen. He says that it is scary and there is a great risk of avalanches in several places in the mountains. On Tuesday, he checked himself at Gaustatoppen, and the snow slid out immediately. – I always try to test it with the skis first, where I see it has been very windy and packed. Urdal always has an avalanche bag on his back when he skis. If he hears the muffled sound from the snow, he grabs the handle, and within two seconds, two large balloons are inflated behind his back. – Then the chance of surviving in a snowstorm is much greater, because then you have a room around you. Prepared for busy times The danger of avalanches is high throughout West Telemark, and the emergency crews are on high alert. – An avalanche is very resource-intensive in terms of size and workload. We need a lot of crew who can search, Finnekås tells the Red Cross. DANGER OF AVALANCHES: There are a lot of flakes and weak layers in the snow on Gaustatoppen now, and hikers should use all their senses when they are out, urges Mats Volland Finnekås. Photo: Lars Tore Endresen / news The volunteers are prepared for a busy period ahead. – We will be on high alert throughout the space Christmas and otherwise beyond the winter season, to welcome all the people and any events. If you are unsafe, you should preferably not go on a trip now, advises Finnekås in the Red Cross. There are a lot of flakes and weak layers in the snow on Gaustatoppen, and hikers should use all their senses when they are out. Listen for drones and keep an eye out for fins in the snow, he encourages. UNSAFE: Especially on the west side of the tower it is now unsafe, while on the east side there is a steep trail and thus somewhat safer. Photo: Lars Tore Endresen / news Faretegn In Buskerud there was also an avalanche on Tuesday, says Ingrid Skrede. She is the duty manager in the Snow Avalanche Warning Service at NVE. – We have also received reports of danger signs, such as crunching in the snow when you walk on it and shooting cracks, she says. – It is clear that people should be careful when traveling in the mountains now. CAUTION: Ingrid Skrede, supervisor of the Snow Avalanche Warning in NVE, asks people traveling in the mountains to be careful. Photo: Privat In Eastern Norway, there has been a good deal of snow and wind lately, and then there have been jagged snow flakes, according to Skrede. Flocking snow flakes are formed when strong winds stir up the snow that is already on the ground. – It can be easy to trigger landslides there. In the coming days, more snow and wind are reported, and according to Skrede, there will be a great danger of avalanches in the future. – Towards the New Year’s weekend, things will calm down a bit. But people must follow the updated notice on varsom.no, to see how it develops.
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– People should be careful – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
