HAT blog
Backcountry Smarter “The Off-Piste Tool Kit” webinar with Ski Club GB!
Want to feel more confident off-piste this winter — not just in your skiing technique, but in understanding your gear and making better decisions in avalanche terrain?
Join me, Henry, alongside Mark Jones (All Mountain Pro) for this free *Backcountry Smarter – The Essentials online talk on Thursday 10th September. *This talk is for Ski Club members – see this link for signing up and how to become a member.
Avalanche Airbag Backpacks : Should I wear one?
Avalanche Airbags: How They Work, Do They Reduce Injury/Death, and Do They Increase Risk?
This blog introduces an upcoming series of articles on avalanche airbags, created in response to questions raised over the past few years during accident prevention sessions and discussions of the Henry’s Avalanche Talk risk management method.
The article is organized around four topics: how avalanche airbags work; whether they reduce injury and fatalities; whether airbags increase risk-taking; and a survey of the many brands and models available. Viewers are invited to share additional questions and themes via comments on the Henry’s Avalanche Talk YouTube channel and website, or by contacting hat@henrysavalanchetalk.com.
The goal is to shape future articles—potentially a series—based on audience interests, with the current article to be posted in the blog section.
Backcountry Smarter: On-Snow Training for Safer, Smarter Off-Piste Skiing !
Ski Safer, Smarter & More Confidently in the Backcountry After a fantastic first season, we're excited to bring Backcountry Smarter back for winter 2026/27! Launched last year, these on-snow training courses quickly became a hit, attracting skiers keen to improve...
Backcountry Smarter : On-Snow Course Dates for next Season & Free Webinar Next Week!
New on-snow course dates for next season, 2026/27 plus a short live webinar next week on : New hybrid ski touring equipment : how to mix and match Avalanche danger levels 1–5 : what they mean and how to use them to help you be safer off-piste and in the backcountry...
NOTHING HAPPENS… most of the time
“Nothing happens… most of the time”. This can be a trap that leads us into complacency and sometimes into dangerous situations without us even realizing what’s happening - in avalanche terrain, aviation, surgery, finance, even in spacecraft development. We think the...
‘Where Do I Start?’ Safer Off-Piste & Ski Touring — IASI Webinar Replay with Henry Schniewind + Dominique Perret (WEMountain)
The IASI webinar titled “Where do I start for safe off-piste & ski touring?” addresses both novices and experienced skiers. It emphasizes practical strategies for safe skiing, including avalanche risk awareness, terrain filtering, and the importance of practice with rescue gear. The replay is accessible online for further learning.
Avalanche Triggering Explained, Technique + Equipment Compatibility for Touring: In-depth ‘Backcountry Smarter’ Webinar Replay with Henry + Mark
The “Backcountry Smarter Webinar Replay” covers avalanche triggering insights from Henry Schniewind and practical touring techniques from Mark Jones. Key topics include avalanche initiation, remote triggering, essential safety habits, touring gear compatibility, and balance techniques. The session emphasizes informed decision-making for safer backcountry experiences. Accessible on Henry’s Avalanche Talk website.
HAT Safety Pack: Make the Smart Call Off-Piste (Accident Prevention & Companion Rescue Cards)
Research shows that, all too often, avalanche accidents happen because people weren't applying key safety points even if they had education and training . This is where our HAT Safety Pack comes in.Have you ever attended a talk or training which contained some great...