Freedom in the Mountains: Safer Adventures with Henry’s Avalanche Talk

Backcountry (off-piste) skiing and ski touring offer a wonderful sense of freedom and adventure. Beyond the marked slopes lies freedom, challenge, and a connection to the mountains that groomed runs can’t match. But with that freedom comes risk. The key is having the knowledge of how to manage that risk - and applying it every time.

Henry from Henry’s Avalanche Talk, HAT, explains how to explore the Alps’ incredible backcountry and “free-touring” terrain in a confident and ‘acceptably safe’ way’² (Tremper).

If you can ski a red run comfortably, you’re ready to start exploring the backcountry. Many skiers already do so - between pistes or just off to the side - often without realising that they’ve left the secured ski area.

In most European resorts, the secured area ends where the side of the groomed piste does. Beyond that line, avalanche risk is unmanaged. So, as your skiing evolves, your understanding of safety must evolve with it. Think of learning backcountry safety not as a constraint, but as a passport to freedom - a way to unlock the off-piste side of skiing.

Backcountry skiing can be as safe as daily life - driving, DIY, or crossing the street - if you follow sound safety practices in HAT’s definition of ‘acceptably safe’^1&2.

Avalanche experts have compared the risk of skiing in avalanche terrain - with proper precautions - to the risk of an hour’s drive in a car². We accept driving because we understand the risk and how to manage it. The same logic applies to the mountains.

Research shows that 95% of human-involved avalanche accidents are triggered by the victim or someone in their group, and most of these involve cold, dry slab avalanches.

The problem is that nothing seems to go wrong most of the time. This makes us drop our guard and believe unsafe habits are harmless. Over time, these behaviours become routine - especially when we see others doing the same. Even experienced professionals can fall into this trap.

The good news is, human error can be managed. Simple habits like using checklists, memory prompts, or working with a “ski buddy” help us stay consistent and safe. Teamwork keeps everyone alert and accountable.

It also helps to know when and where avalanches with skiers are most likely to happen. In the northern hemisphere, most fatal accidents occur between December and February, usually on north-facing slopes. Many people assume sunny, south-facing slopes are riskier, but that’s not the case. Although spring brings more avalanches overall, the snowpack is often more stable and predictable. A good rule of thumb? Avoid steep slopes during periods of rapid warming, especially after fresh snow.

This shows how our intuition can mislead us in avalanche terrain. We tend to focus on the dramatic, wet-snow avalanches because they’re so visible, but the real danger often lies in the quieter, colder slab avalanches.

And remember - everyone makes mistakes. Research shows we each make around 30 a day. The key is recognising this and using simple systems to catch them before they matter.

In fields like aviation, surgery and the military, checklists and proven systems are what keep people safe. The same approach works in avalanche terrain too. Structured methods help reduce the impact of the small mistakes we are all capable of making. That’s exactly what HAT’s Safety is Freedom Framework is designed to do - helping skiers explore the mountains with more awareness, confidence and safety.

“Henry’s “Safety is Freedom” concept has deep parallels with our industry. Since having him talk in our head office we have unashamedly – and successfully – translated the accident reduction framework to risk management in algorithmic trading. It sounds like a simple checklist: It is, and that’s the point”. Richard Ridgway, Principal Architect, G-Research, Quantitative Technology

The Safety is Freedom Framework works for all levels: from beginners as a foundation for decision-making, to intermediates as a reference for ongoing learning, to experts and professionals as a safeguard against complacency and as a group training tool.

It’s designed for everyone skiing off-piste - with or without a professional. And if you’re skiing with a guide, you should feel free to discuss these points - acting as their “co-pilot” rather than a passive participant.

The Framework is presented in a pocket guide, paired with a Rescue Card, explaining how to carry out an effective rescue, should the worst occur. Together, they make up the HAT Safety Pack, available through henrysavalanchetalk.com. Both guides are also demonstrated in videos on the HAT YouTube channel. A brief summary of the Framework is provided below.

The Safety is Freedom Framework is based on three key principles: where you go, how you go, and what you do. It focuses on the vital safety checks that many avalanche victims overlooked - often just two or three missed points, sometimes more - even when the warning signs were there.

To learn how to put these principles into practice, watch Henry’s 12-minute video, where he explains the Framework step by step. By applying these simple points, you can make smarter decisions and enjoy your off-piste or ski touring adventures with greater confidence.


Remember - you don’t need to get it perfect; even small improvements can make a big difference.

1. Where You Go (decision making)

This means making conscious decisions about whether to ski on or near slopes steeper than 30°.

• Slope angles: Avalanches that can be of consequence to us release on slopes of 30° steepness and more - about the steepness of a European black run. Be careful because you can “trigger” avalanches above, even from lower slopes below.
• Danger level & bulletin: The avalanche bulletin gives daily danger levels and guidance for specific aspects and elevations. Look for reports of recent ‘accidental avalanches’!
• Recent dry slab activity: Signs such as recent cold, dry slab avalanches, collapsing snow (‘whumpfs’), or shooting cracks all indicate an unstable snowpack. You can learn more in the Framework and Pocket Guide videos.

• Terrain traps: Avoid gullies, cliffs, trees, streambeds, and even lakes below the slope, as they can greatly magnify the consequences of even a small avalanche.
• Distances: Maintain 10–30 metres between skiers to reduce the load on the snowpack - and the risk of triggering an avalanche - while also preventing multiple burials. If in doubt, go one at a time.
• Safe(r) zones: Safe zones are areas completely outside the avalanche path, with no risk from slopes above. Safe(r) zones, on the other hand, are only partly protected - they’re less exposed but could still be hit by a larger-than-expected avalanche from above. These areas are much better than stopping in the middle of a slope, but they should only be used as brief regrouping points, not somewhere to linger.

• Essential rescue equipment: Always carry a transceiver, shovel, and probe, and practise until use is instinctive.
• Partner check: Working as a team, using good communication and coordination, saves lives. Victims buried in an avalanche typically have 15 minutes to survive. Around 70% die from asphyxiation, 20% from trauma, and 10% from hypothermia. Immediate, self-contained ‘partner rescue’ is critical - and only possible if everyone is equipped and trained.
• Human factors: These are the origin of most avalanche accidents. Apply the points in this Framework to avoid these errors.

You don’t need to be perfect to be ‘safe’. Making an effort to apply these principles already makes you dramatically safer than ignoring them. Henry admits that even after 35 years of backcountry skiing, he still reviews each day to see what he could improve.

“I’ll never get it perfect,” he says. “I just try not to be too stupid.”

That humility lies at the heart of avalanche safety. Perfection isn’t achievable - but reducing risk through consistent, thoughtful action is.

You don’t need to be an expert skier to try free-touring. This style of skiing combines lift access with short climbs using skins - adhesive strips that attach to your ski bases - allowing you to reach untouched terrain with minimal effort.

Even a short skin up can lead to a long, unforgettable descent. Free-touring is accessible, flexible, and ideal for anyone who wants a taste of adventure without committing to a full-day climb.

“There’s nothing like earning a few turns and then skiing untouched powder back to the lift,” says Henry. “You don’t need to be extreme - you just need curiosity and respect for the mountain.”

HAT’s mission is to make the mountains safer for everyone who loves to explore them.

Each season, Henry and his team deliver a range of UK-based and Alpine training programmes:

• Live talks
• Online talks
• Webinars
• Transceiver/Companion-Rescue training in the UK and the Alps
• On-snow courses and off-piste guiding

To learn more about staying safe while exploring the mountains, you can book a private session with Henry. His Henry’s Avalanche Talk programme offers tailored chalet talks, off-piste and ski-touring guiding, and corporate sessions on executive decision-making, risk, and crisis management - all designed to help you experience true freedom in the mountains, safely.

This season, Henry is partnering with Mark Jones to launch a brand-new on-snow course in Val d’Isère: Backcountry Smarter - your complete off-piste toolkit for greater freedom in the mountains.

Build your confidence and independence off-piste as you learn practical ways to refine your ski technique, make better decisions and get to know your gear for safer, more rewarding adventures in the backcountry.

Find updates and training details here:

• Henry's Avalanche Talks
• Facebook
• YouTube