Observe & Report
Some ideas on how to make the most of this key feature of the Bluerando app
The main goal of the “Observe & Report” feature in the Bluerando app is to give mountain enthusiasts a practical tool to help them get used to observing their surroundings. By doing so, they can pick up useful clues that support better decision-making—like choosing the safest route and adopting the right behavior in snowy terrain.
Of course, the most important observations often relate to avalanches that have already occurred. Their altitude, aspect, size, type of debris, and estimated release time can all provide valuable insights into the current snowpack conditions.
Thanks to Bluerando, all observations are automatically shared with other users, who can view them directly on the map while planning their route or during their outdoor activities.
Another key point: Bluerando can automatically share these observations with any organisation that requests them—especially avalanche forecasting services, which can use this data to compare real-world observations with the danger levels reported in their bulletins.
But avalanches are just one piece of the puzzle. Wind, existing tracks, vegetation, terrain shape, the presence of other people, the snow surface, weather conditions, frost, humidity, and air temperature can all be observed and reported. Paying attention to these elements can give you valuable information to continue your trip more safely.
The goal of this post is to offer a few tips on how to use “Observe & Report” as effectively as possible.
A simple, general approach is to challenge yourself during a trip to record a certain number of observations covering all the elements mentioned above. At the end of the day, you can review your observations on the Bluerando website—see how many you made, what they were about, and whether they were useful. From there, you can decide whether to keep them as part of your personal database or delete them.
Thanks to Bluerando, all observations are automatically shared with other users, who can view them directly on the map while planning their route or during their outdoor activities.
Another key point: Bluerando can automatically share these observations with any organisation that requests them—especially avalanche forecasting services, which can use this data to compare real-world observations with the danger levels reported in their bulletins.
But avalanches are just one piece of the puzzle. Wind, existing tracks, vegetation, terrain shape, the presence of other people, the snow surface, weather conditions, frost, humidity, and air temperature can all be observed and reported. Paying attention to these elements can give you valuable information to continue your trip more safely.
Thanks to Bluerando, all observations are automatically shared with other users, who can view them directly on the map while planning their route or during their outdoor activities.
Another key point: Bluerando can automatically share these observations with any organisation that requests them—especially avalanche forecasting services, which can use this data to compare real-world observations with the danger levels reported in their bulletins.
But avalanches are just one piece of the puzzle. Wind, existing tracks, vegetation, terrain shape, the presence of other people, the snow surface, weather conditions, frost, humidity, and air temperature can all be observed and reported. Paying attention to these elements can give you valuable information to continue your trip more safely.
The goal of this post is to offer a few tips on how to use “Observe & Report” as effectively as possible.
A simple, general approach is to challenge yourself during a trip to record a certain number of observations covering all the elements mentioned above. At the end of the day, you can review your observations on the Bluerando website—see how many you made, what they were about, and whether they were useful. From there, you can decide whether to keep them as part of your personal database or delete them.
If you want to dive deeper into a specific topic, you can set a goal of recording several observations focused on just one aspect—for example, wind effects—and then review at the end of the day whether you were able to notice, understand, and build a meaningful interpretation around it.
In the context of schools, courses, or outings with a mountain guide
Bluerando can also be used as a teaching tool—or even in a fun, competitive way. For example, it can turn into a challenge between participants: who can spot the most observations, or the most relevant signs related to a specific topic? The results can then be reviewed and discussed afterward—whether in a classroom or at a mountain hut—to evaluate both the quantity and quality of the observations, as well as each participant’s progress.
Finally, the recorded observations can either be deleted or kept on the Bluerando website depending on their quality, originality, and overall usefulness. For guides and instructors, this growing personal database—complete with photos—can become a valuable media library, always available for future lessons or presentations.
Enjoy your trip!
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.
Ernesto Bassetti
Ernesto is one of the leading snow and avalanche experts in Italy and beyond.
By passion and by profession, he has been involved in mountain safety for over 40 years, with particular attention to the avalanche issue.
He is co-founder, and until 2020 Vice President, of MND Group; important international player in the field of mountain infrastructure and world leader in controlled avalanche release systems.
He is a ski instructor, National Ski Mountaineering Instructor, former director of the Mario Righini Ski Mountaineering School.
He was promoter, co-founder and soul of the "Servizio Valanghe Italiano" (Italian Avalanche Service), of which he held the Presidency for 18 years.
