International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings - Montana State University Library

Item: Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale mapping in the Pyrenees: an expanding project

• • Title: Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale mapping in the Pyrenees: an expanding project

    Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings 2018, Innsbruck, Austria

    Authors:

    • Montse Bacardit  [ Centre de Lauegi, Consell Generau d’Aran (CGA), Val d’Aran, Spain ]
    • Sara Orgué  [ Freelance Avalanche Technician, Pyrenees ]
    • Ivan Moner  [ Centre de Lauegi, Consell Generau d’Aran (CGA), Val d’Aran, Spain ]
    • Jordi Gavaldà  [ Centre de Lauegi, Consell Generau d’Aran (CGA), Val d’Aran, Spain ]
    • Aina Margalef  [ Centre d’Estudis de la Neu i la Muntanya d’Andorra (CENMA-IEA), Sant Julià de Lòria, Andorra ]
    • Marc Pons  [ Centre d’Estudis de la Neu i la Muntanya d’Andorra (CENMA-IEA), Sant Julià de Lòria, Andorra ]
    • Gerard Olm  [ Freelance Avalanche Technician, Pyrenees ]
    • Rocío Hurtado  [ Freelance Avalanche Technician, Pyrenees ]
    • Pablo Huelin Rueda  [ Freelance Avalanche Technician, Pyrenees ]
    • Albert Piqué Badia  [ Freelance Avalanche Technician, Pyrenees ]
    • Miguel Ángel Clavero  [ Campaña Montaña Segura, Federación Aragonesa de Montañsimo (FAM), Spain ]
    • Luis Masgrau  [ Gobierno de Aragón (DGA), Aragón, Spain ]

    Date: 2018-10-07

    Abstract: The Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) was developed by Parks Canada in 2004 to inform backcountry users about the exposure to avalanche danger of winter mountain itineraries in their National Parks. Nowadays, ATES maps have become a popular tool for trip planning in Western Canada, Alaska and New Zealand. In 2011, the ATES was first applied for a pilot area in Val d’Aran, Central Pyrenees, and after 8 winter seasons, ATES zoning for Val d'Aran is fully completed and ready for the upcoming 2018-19 winter season. In recent years, other areas in the Pyrenees have also started to rate their avalanche terrain using the ATES zoning methodology: Tavascan, Canfranc and Benasque in the Spanish Pyrenees, and several valleys in Andorra. Here we present the current results of the overall ATES mapping in the Pyrenees, which represents an expanding project at a mountain range scale. Since ATES maps in the Pyrenees are expanding and becoming commonly used for trip planning amongst recreationists and practicionists, it is important to pool the doubts that have emerged amongst professionals involved in the terrain classification. Understanding and applying the three rating models in the same way can be of great help to produce functional and homogeneous ATES maps between zones across the Pyrenees. The discussion generated can also be useful for other mountain ranges where the ATES zoning is currently spreading out.

    Object ID: ISSW2018_P19.9.pdf

    Language of Article: English

    Presenter(s):

    Keywords: avalanche terrain; exposure; zoning; risk management; trip planning

    Page Number(s): 1684-1688

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