Articles | Volume 15, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-15-1985-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-15-1985-2015
Research article
 | 
09 Sep 2015
Research article |  | 09 Sep 2015

Analysis of avalanche risk factors in backcountry terrain based on usage frequency and accident data in Switzerland

F. Techel, B. Zweifel, and K. Winkler

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Short summary
We present a spatiotemporal picture of winter backcountry usage in the Swiss Alps and compare this with the distribution of avalanche accidents. Critical avalanche danger conditions and an unfavorable snowpack (old snow problem) strongly increase the risk of winter backcountry recreationists to be involved in a severe avalanche accident. This explains why there are comparably more accidents in the inneralpine regions with less activity.
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