Davos backcountry week: Navigating risk and high consequence while growing with the support of incredible guides.

Let’s put ourselves in another persons shoes for a moment. It’s mid winter and you wake up to the sound of the avalanche sirens, you do not even need to check the forecast because you know its high, the risk is high and the consequences great of making a wrong decision. You are responsible for taking people into avalanche terrain and making sure that they get out of it unscathed, and have a good time too, you don’t have a choice it’s your job.

What would you do?

It’s Backcountry week in Davos, a festival that has been running for the last decade. Created by local guides to make the most of the low season and attract folk from all around the world to explore their backyard.

I woke up to the sun shining through my window, and pulling back the curtains in the hotel Edelweiss I step out onto the balcony to look down the valley over rooftops at mountain after mountain, with rays of sunshine bursting through clouds to highlight the valleys peaks.

Part of me can not wait to be out there, another part is full of dread, because of the persistent weak layer and the avalanche report of risk 4, high risk with extreme consequence (the higher the number the higher the risk on avalanche forecasts, see links below to learn more).

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As a freeride athlete, I have spent the large majority of the last decade in avalanche terrain, and also on trips with backcountry guides. Guides make the safety calls in my freeride competitions, and I also travel to parts of the world that I am not familiar with where I hire local guides. I know that I only have knowledge of the mountains and climate in my hometown Tromsø Norway, and in order for me to assess avalanche risk in other parts of the world I need to hire an experienced local professional.

Over the years, travelling with guides is when I have been exposed to the most avalanche situations. It is easy to put all of your faith in a guides hands, and sometimes even easier not to question yourself next to a skilled professional. When being in avalanche terrain is a large part of your life, avalanche consequences are also a large part of it. You lose people from your community, your friendship groups and ones that you loved. My past experiences played in my mind as I prepared for my first day in the Davos backcountry.

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I went to Davos with my friend and pro skier Sanne Mona, who was currently based in Engelberg. Our first morning heading to the festival site was full of anxiety, the avalanche forecast playing on our minds. Sanne had been buried in an avalanche 2 years before this trip, so I knew that I wanted to make sure that she felt safe.

When we arrived at the festival site it was buzzing with people, we got free breakfast and there were tons of tents where you could try gear, standing in the middle of the square you could feel the excitement, the atmosphere was so welcoming and not at all pretentious like some of the other alpine festivals.

We met with our guide Christian Furger, a quiet man with a kind smile, from Southern Switzerland and we joined the intermediate splitboarding group with 2 other guests. We were headed to Chorbschhorn to snowboard a run called “Frauenkirch” The ladies church, a route that Christian named after the church that stood beneath it.

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As we hopped off the bus, the clouds had lifted a little and we could see ridge lines glowing golden. We got ready to start our hike up a road through a pine forest, trees towering high above us. Our path wound up ridges to the summit of the peak, choosing the safest terrain that we could and Christian, the guide, was open to any questions that we had about the terrain and avalanche risk. My stomach having that sinking feeling when we had to climb steeper sections and sighs of relief when they were over.

The snow was beautiful and light, but our thoughts quite heavy. As we got higher the wind ripped at us on the ridge, but lifting our heads we could see untouched alpine lines all around. As we were nearing the summit we had to cross under a steep face but Christian made sure we were far from the run out zone. I stepped forwards and a loud “whompf” of the ground settling beneath me but the sound still echoed though my head, a warning from the mountain! In these moments a little voice always tells you to turn around, but reason has to prevail “we are safe” and that voice was strengthened by our guide. The risk was not there even if the warning signs were. A calm washed over me thanks to Christian and we all carried on until we couldn’t skin anymore and it was time to bootpack to our summit, the ladies church.

Standing on top we could see the real ladies church below, a place of worship. For Sanne and I mountain peaks are our place, a third space that isn’t religious but that brings us joy and this trip echoed that. The run down to the church was full of joy, powder turns, technical fun through the forest, and laughter at the falls from the group.

As we reached the church below we hugged and shared our thanks for the day. Then helicopters started whirring above us. An avalanche in the valley opposite where we had been. We prayed that everyone was ok.

The next morning we heard the news that people had been taken in the avalanche, and had not survived. Although they were walking on safe terrain an avalanched had been triggered from above and rolled down onto them. In Switzerland there are around 150 reported avalanche incidents a year, and the fatality rate is just under 10%, most people do not pass away from being buried but from other traumas. It was a somber start to the day and the weather reflected that, Davos was shrouded in heavy cloud.

Our course today was advanced avalanche training, something that I feel that you can never get enough of. Adrian Raz, our guide for the day, bubbled with warmth from the moment you got close to him, a big happy smile erupted from his full beard, and it lightened my heavy thoughts. Clouds filled the sky and hid the mountaintops. When we reached the top lift station we could barely see 1m, so headed in for coffee and a chat. Our group all came from different parts of Europe, had training from different recognised avalanche certification and experienced snow very differently, as local climate has such a large effect. We shared our knowledge and honed in on what our local avalanche problems were in the area that we were currently in. We found a common snow science language to use for the day, and the communication was great thanks to Adrian.

Out on the snow we started by assessing risks, as the clouds lifted above us. It was then time to get the beacons out, check they were working, including all antennas, then work on our search tactics. It’s always incredible how differently each model of avalanche beacon functions in its broad search. After strapping back into our gear we did some risk management while riding, practiced survival tactics for if we were in an avalanche, and then grouped together to do some avalanche drills. First up a race to get the gear out of the bag. Next, it was time to try a search in snow and do some digging. Dependent on the number of people in your group you need different formations, also you want a technique that saves energy. We moved on to testing our probes and what it feels like to probe a real body, then what it feels like to be buried and how little people on the surface can hear you. Although the practice is necessary we all agree prevention is the key point. The risk assessments we do, not putting ourselves in high risk when it can be avoided and making good decisions for yourself and friends. Most importantly turning up for avalanche education repeatedly. We finished the day bouncing through powder fields in low angle terrain back to the festival, velds brimming with new knowledge and renewed experiences.

It is impossible to avoid avalanche terrain in the backcountry, and when we chase what we love, we must always be aware. Going to the backcountry week in Davos, we witnessed a mastery of mountain skills from the most humble and welcoming guides on the planet. We got to chase powder and develop knowledge, surrounded by great people. For me the avalanche course was the best that I have attended in my professional career, and I am very grateful to both of the guides that I met in Davos for the experience.

Backdrops Backcountry Skills Week

**Our Backcountry Skills Week is back bigger and better for 2026!**
We’ve teamed up with Altitude Guides to offer a great inclusive Skills Week Package of, 7 nights half board accommodation, 5 days on mountain guiding, 5 days of lift passes, minibus transfers on guided days, transfers to/from Modane train station at start/finish.
All for only €1700, yes we know that’s a deal.

It’s mid winter, and you wake up to the sound of the avalanche sirens, it’s your job, so you go out. You have the pressure of taking people out into the mountains and the responsibility of keeping people safe. You might not always ski the steepest lines with the guests, but with the right people and open communication you will get home safe. You make the right decisions all day, and know that it is ok to turn around at any point, because of your training and experience. The day ends with smiles on everyones face and memories of new comrades and of powder turns floating through everyones minds.