As the snow season gets underway, NZ Mountain Safety Council (MSC) is boosting avalanche safety with a new video series, delivering a vital resource for backcountry adventurers.
Avalanche Tips and Terms: From the forecast to the field is a free 23-part series aimed at beginner and intermediate alpine enthusiasts, including skiers, snowboarders, mountaineers, alpine trampers and hunters. Developed with the generous support of Tūpiki Trust, the series provides essential knowledge to help navigate New Zealand’s dynamic and often challenging alpine terrain.
“We’re excited to be launching Avalanche Tips and Terms this winter to improve backcountry safety across a wide range of user groups for years to come,” says MSC Chief Executive Mike Daisley. “The series promotes avalanche and alpine education, and builds on the success of our other avalanche safety videos.”
Filmed on location in the Arrowsmith Range near Methven by Dunedin-based creative agency Walsh & Beck, the videos feature MSC Alpine Partnerships Advisor Bianca Bratton, along with avalanche forecasters Jim Young and Jamie Robertson. Additional footage has been incorporated from around Aotearoa, thanks to contributions from the local alpine industry.
“Whereas other avalanche resources rely on overseas examples, this series uses New Zealand footage only. This has allowed us to effectively illustrate avalanche dangers that are unique to Aotearoa and provide relevant, practical safety tips and techniques,” says Mike.
“These real-life examples will help backcountry users better understand New Zealand avalanche dangers and how to effectively use information from the NZ Avalanche Advisory to keep themselves safe in the backcountry.”
Based on MSC’s world-first research into New Zealand mountaineering culture and avalanche safety, Above and Beyond (2023), the series covers key safety topics, such as types of avalanches, using the NZ Avalanche Advisory (NZAA), signs of snowpack instability, safe travel tips, and rescue equipment essentials.
The series is freely available on the NZAA website and YouTube, adding to MCS’s growing library of free outdoor safety resources.
“Our safety videos have been shown to reduce incidents in the outdoors, and we’re confident this series will have a similar, positive impact,” says Mike.
