PREPARING FOR A SKI TOURING OUTING
LÉONARD PIERREL
Born 29 years ago in a Vosges ski resort, Léonard has been living in Chamonix for the past 6 years. An engineer in sports equipment, currently reorienting to specialize in eco-design, he takes full advantage of his free time to explore the surroundings of Chamonix. In parallel, Léonard would like to get closer to the social side of his various activities by taking the DEJEPS climbing exam. A nature lover, he is also an athlete of the riders alliance POW (Protect Our Winter) and is heavily involved in this association which aims to raise awareness among young people about the consequences of climate change in the mountains.
Léonard has been part of the Cairn Team for several years and takes advantage of his outings to test the equipment and provide product feedback so that the brand can evolve its offer according to everyone's needs. What he enjoys most: sharing his adventures in photos and videos with those around him and promoting Cairn within the Chamonix community.
DISCOVER LÉONARD
THE PREPARATION OF A TYPICAL SKI TOURING DAY
The BRA (Avalanche Risk Bulletin) information, which details the avalanche risks based on snowfall, previous layers, slope orientations, altitude, winds... There are different ones for different massifs.
The weather: "Météo Chamonix", a fairly accurate local weather forecast with temperatures, wind, possible precipitation.
Les sites spécialisés : Faites le plein d'informations sur Camptocamp.org et skitour.fr. ; des sites internet de partage d’informations sur les itinéraires et conditions en montagne et sur FatMap, une carte 3D qui permet de faire apparaître des itinéraires de ski de randonnée, ainsi que d’observer les degrés de pente, les orientations, et même calquer des cartes IGN.
Specialized websites: Get plenty of information on Camptocamp.org and skitour.fr; websites for sharing information on routes and mountain conditions and on FatMap, a 3D map that displays ski touring routes, as well as slope degrees, orientations, and even overlays IGN maps.
Information via social networks: Today, social networks are becoming increasingly important in our daily lives. I place real importance on this information because you can find "live" snow conditions that you can match with altitudes and exposures, allowing you to know the most frequented outings and evaluate the least frequented ones.
Consult the Chamoniarde: This is an association that deploys its resources for mountain safety. They are constantly conducting training and activities. On their website, they provide day-to-day mountain conditions and list volunteer outings with photos and descriptions. Don't hesitate to contact them by phone, they can provide information and willingly answer questions.
Choosing your equipment: Depending on the route selected in advance, it is important to choose your equipment well and prepare it in advance to make sure you don't forget anything. This includes specific equipment like crampons, knives, ropes, harnesses etc. But also protective equipment like helmets, sun protection, gloves etc.
On the ground: Objectively assess the day's conditions during your progress and if in doubt, know when to give up.
