Off-piste skiing: guided outings in Val Cenis

The mountains are a place of freedom and adventure. But before you leave the open, safe slopes, always make sure you follow the safety rules:

• Check the quality of the snowpack with the professionals at the resort, the weather report and the BERA (Bulletin d'Estimation des Risques d'Avalanche, which ranks the risk from 1 (low) to 5 (very high). A technical document you need to know how to read and understand).
• Mandatory equipment: shovel, probe, avalanche transceiver
• Be accompanied and tell at least one person about your itinerary

The easiest way is to call on the resort's professional instructors and guides, who will accompany you in complete safety to enjoy the fresh snow and wide-open spaces.

In the mountains, you also have to know when to give up. It's sometimes tempting to take the plunge on a virgin face, but if the safety conditions aren't right, always err on the side of caution and turn back or choose a less exposed slope.