Item: Observing Ski Touring and Decision making in the Alps. What Ordinary People Do or Not Do, and Why?
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Title: Observing Ski Touring and Decision making in the Alps. What Ordinary People Do or Not Do, and Why?
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2016 Proceedings, Breckenridge, CO, USA
Authors:
- Bjørn Michaelsen [ Dep. of Sport Sciences, Faculty og Sports, Tourism and Social Work, UiT - The Actic University of Norway, Alta, Norway ]
- Carsten Rolland [ Dep. of Sport Sciences, Faculty og Sports, Tourism and Social Work, UiT - The Actic University of Norway, Alta, Norway ]
Date: 2016-10-02
Abstract: Recreational avalanche accident prevention seems to be based on a universal understanding of snow and avalanche science. This has led to an impressive diversity of planning and decision-making tools the past decades. Today there is an emerging understanding that these rational tools are not being used among ordinary people as intended. In this work we ask if cultural bias and tradition override the rational decision-making within recreational backcountry skiing. Different national ski and mountaineering heritages might give the universal white snow colours we haven't mapped within avalanche risk acceptance and management. Since we import and export avalanche accidents to each other, we hope this issue is of interest domestic and internationally, expanding our perspectives within the well-known heuristic traps. In this preliminary work – based on case studies in the French, Swiss and Austrian Alps 2016 - we have observed how ordinary people tour. Observing another culture and tradition, as an outsider should give insights locals can't see often blinded and restrained by their own habits. Our findings show that even avalanche educated people with their traditional approach to the mountains - are often unknowingly static and rigid - despite entering a dynamic environment. As an example, we observed people choose a particular route based on the avalanche danger score, without further communication or considerations. Therefore a true understanding of "What people really do – or not do – and why", should be an upcoming focus area to better understand the irrational minds we are targeting.
Object ID: ISSW16_P2.13.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s):
Keywords: Ski Touring, Decision Making, Risk Cultures, Tradition, Qualitative methods, Avalanche education
Page Number(s): 770-777
Subjects: avalanche risk avalanche education ski touring study
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