OBSERVE TO SHARE, TO GROW
One of the features that make Bluerando stand out from other apps dedicated to the outdoors is the attention paid to activities carried out in snowy environments and the safety of those who practice them. The OBSERVE and REPORT section is an integral and essential part of this project. Below, we explain why.
OBSERVE and REPORT.
This section of the app and site, is designed to allow news and information to be shared among users about different types of reporting, from water resources to points of interest to general hazards. Here, however, we want to focus on what we consider the most important function, for what is the philosophy of our platform, the observation and reporting of snow-related events.
In particular, the OBSERVATION and REPORTING of avalanches.
Here at Bluerando, with the OBSERVE and REPORT initiative, combined with the SNOW and AVALANCHE BLOG, we want to contribute to the spread of a culture of awareness among mountain goers in its winter guise.
In this sense, observation should not be a simple taking a few photos and filling in the fields of a form. It should be an opportunity to develop one's skills in assessing situations, and potential dangers.
From reading this article Observing an Avalanche in Nufenen, one can understand how much valuable information can be gleaned from a simple observation of the landscape. Training yourself to develop this kind of sensitivity should be as much a part of any ski mountaineer's activity as experiencing what it is like to find an ARTVA buried under snow or to build a stretcher with what you have on hand (by the way, always a roll of Grey Tape in your backpack!). The shape of the snow, the color, the small details, can make all the difference when deciding whether or not to tackle a pristine and tempting slope.
OBSERVE and REPORT is intended to be a stimulus toward precisely this kind of sensitivity.
Starting with the form we propose, the completion of which should give us pause for thought:
- how big is the avalanche?
- what kind of release is it?
- what did the snow look like?
- the exposure?
- is it a natural or provoked detachment?
All information that will serve those who will see our observation, of course. Mountaineers and professional forecasters first and foremost. But which should also serve to give us pause for thought. To understand the conditions that led to the detachment and to see if they can be repeated for the slopes we will have to go up as well as down.
Also for this reason, the most interesting observations will be taken up and commented on in the SNOW and AVALANCHE BLOG; to allow us to compare our assessments with those of a great expert like Ernesto Bassetti.
It 's amazing how much information a trained eye can gather from observing the snowy landscape, or a simple photo. Ernesto, with his experience and communication skills, conveys all of it, helping us understand what we need to notice to assess potential hazards, moving in the winter environment.
We at Bluerando, in our own small way, also want to contribute to the continuous improvement of avalanche forecast models. All interested entities can contact us and request an access key to be enabled to access our database.
Already AINEVA and WHITERISK have received their key and can download all observations daily through our API.
As users, we can all enjoy the observations sent in virtually real time.
At home, on the Portal www.bluerando.com, as we plan our next hike, we can see recently submitted observations plotted on the map.
In the field, as we carry out our outdoor activity, we see observations appear along the way as soon as they are sent to the server.
In this way, we are informed of the conditions encountered in previous days and can compare them with what we see today.
OBSERVE and REPORT
- keep our attention high
- identify interesting situations
- record the observation
- evaluate the situation
- share it with other users
Try the Bluerando app!
With Bluerando, you can save and share your snow activities with friends, check out reports sent by other users, and use the routes in the shared library.
Above all, you can share your location with your travel companions and record your Snow & Avalanche Observations and contribute to everyone's safety.
