Off-piste skiing: these 3 pieces of equipment can save your life
Published on 01/04/2025 - Written by Amélie
For powder lovers with a good level of skiing, off-piste skiing is an activity not to be missed in Les Menuires. This discipline allows you to discover the 3 Vallées area in a different way by getting off the beaten track, but also to enjoy fresh, immaculate snow.
If the presence of a mountain professional is essential for off-piste skiing, so too is the possession of specific safety equipment - avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel. Here's a closer look at this equipment with esf Les Menuires.
The avalanche transceiver, an essential aid for locating people
Every member of a group going on an off-piste skiing expedition must be equipped with an avalanche transceiver. This transceiver emits signals on a frequency of 457 kHz and can be used to find people buried in heavy snow.
During the excursion, participants must set their avalanche transceivers to the transmit position, so that if an avalanche occurs, those who have escaped can set their transceivers to the receive position to locate those trapped under the snow as quickly as possible.
Reactivity and the speed with which action is taken are decisive: between 0 and 15 minutes spent under the snow, avalanche victims have a 90% chance of surviving.
Enjoy powder snow with complete peace of mind!A sensational experience with an experienced instructorAvalanche safety: probe and shovel
Along with a avalanche transceiver, a probe and a shovel are part of the safety triptych that you should keep with you on any outing in the mountains. The probe is a stick about two metres long (sometimes more), foldable for easy carrying.
In the event of an avalanche, it helps you to accurately estimate the depth at which your partners are buried thanks to the graduations. You can then use your avalanche shovel to dig them out. There are different types of shovel, depending on how practical and ergonomic you want them to be.
The avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel complement each other and are essential tools for increasing your chances of survival in an avalanche. So take the time to select your equipment and learn how to use it before setting off on your adventure!
The avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel complement each other and are essential tools for increasing your chances of survival in an avalanche. So take the time to select your equipment and learn how to use it before setting off on your adventure!
Learn to ski off-piste with esf Les Menuires
The mountains are a majestic and unpredictable environment, subject to the weather. To discover it in the best possible conditions and in complete safety, discover the courses offered by esf Les Menuires!
Qualified instructors share their experience and passion for skiing with you, and help you to progress.
Our ski school also offers off-piste outings, accessible to all levels from Class 4 upwards. Your instructor-guide will start by teaching you about mountain safety and explaining how to use the equipment included in the package. Then it's off to explore the unspoilt valleys of the Belleville valley.
Our ski school also offers off-piste outings, accessible to all levels from Class 4 upwards. Your instructor-guide will start by teaching you about mountain safety and explaining how to use the equipment included in the package. Then it's off to explore the unspoilt valleys of the Belleville valley.
For one session or a series of six lessons, fill up on fresh air and thrills in complete safety with esf Les Menuires!
discovering the most beautiful estatesLet us guide you through the snowy paths