Maps, guidebooks, the internet and experts are good sources of information about routes, distances, differences in altitude and the current conditions. Pay particular attention to the weather forecast, as cold conditions, strong winds and poor visibility greatly increase the risk of accidents. Also plan alternative routes and find out the emergency number for the areas’ ski patrol, police rescue (000) and log intentions with your ski patrol or park rangers

The decisive question when planning a tour: Do the current conditions allow for my tour destination? Bear in mind that the plan is a mental draft which must be reassessed continuously on tour. Even the most careful plan is worthless if the fixation on a destination is strong to the point of not factoring in new information gained on the spot. Planning an alternative makes it easier to react flexibly to adverse conditions.