Despite early season snow, conditions have been a bit poor in recent weeks outside of open ski runs where cold night weather has enabled some snowmaking.

Conditions at the moment are similar to the start of the 2005 / 2006 season which saw a record 57 avalanche deaths in France. A thin snow-pack with very strong temperature gradients.

Roof avalanches can be a serious danger. In Texas a woman managed to catch the exact moment slabs of snow slide from this roof.

One thing you couldn't fail to miss today in the Belledonne Mountains were copious quantities of surface hoar crystals on any shaded slopes and between 1200 - 2000 meters, maybe higher but that is

Early season snowpack is what can turn a normal avalanche season into hell and damnation and it is something that is worth watching very closely.

Ryan Guess of Black Diamond equipment introduces the Black Diamond Jet Force Halo avalanche airbag.

In a long interview given to Antoine Chandellier the father of Courchevel ski instructor and trainee guide Grégory Costa, killed a year ago today in an avalanche in Nepal, criticises the state of comm

Sometimes avalanches catch up with even the fastest, strongest skiers. In this video La Plagne freerider Julien Lopez describes trying to outrun the slide, until he falls and is covered by the debris.

In an article for Power Magazine entitled "Nature's Feedback", Matt Hanson asks why so many of the best skier's are dying.

16 deaths in a weekend: Tourists ignoring warnings put out by the authorities. Calls to fine or ban people going outside marked and patrolled areas.