Wherever there seems to be the slightest risk of avalanche the party should separate and proceed in single file at about 20-yard intervals.  Then if a runner is carried away, the others will be able to go to his assistance.  In some cases, however, even this is not sufficient protection as the whole slope may go at once.  In old days before the railways had tunnelled through the passes we were driving over the Fluela above Davos on our way to Italy in March.  We were in the post consisting of some 20 one-horse sledges and had just left the Hospiz when we met the up-coming post, also consisting of a number of one-horse sledges.  It took some time to pass, as the track was narrow and the horses floundered in the deep snow when passing each other.  After we had got by and were continuing on our way down to Sues, we turned along an outstanding buttress of cliff and saw that some two miles of steep slope ahead had avalanched.  The whole surface of the snow had slipped to the bottom of the valley and if either of the diligences had been on this slope when it happened, horses, sledges and all would have been carried away.

This experience fixed avalanche danger very firmly in my mind, and having also seen several large avalanches falling, as well as the immense amount of damage done to forests and chalets by these insuperable monsters, I have never wished to risk getting into a large one myself.

Even a small avalanche is very overwhelming and a beginner who has felt its effects soon realizes what it may mean.  Choose a very short steep slope on a day when the snow is slipping and try to get it going.  Once it moves and entangles your legs and Skis, you will feel the extraordinary helplessness which results.  This was one of our games when I was a child.  Without Skis it is possible to float on top of a baby avalanche and to enjoy it, but with Skis on, the feet soon become entangled and helplessness results.

The first thing to do when an avalanche starts and no escape is possible is to get the Ski bindings undone and the feet free.  Then “swim” with arms and legs and try to keep on top.  If buried, keep one arm over nose and mouth so as to keep air space and push the other arm up, pointing the Ski stick through to the open so that it may show your whereabouts.  This is easy to describe, but probably not so easy to carry out if the occasion arises.

One of the first books on Ski-running advises people to carry some 60 metres of red tape and to let this trail behind them when crossing dangerous ground.  Then, if overwhelmed by an avalanche, the red thread can be picked up by the search party and the victim may quickly be dug out.  I have never met anyone who has carried out this suggestion and do not want the extra weight of red tape in my Rucksack, but it makes one think and realize how much other experienced runners have thought also.

The following precautions would seem to me to be better: