revasse fall is the last of the dangers covered in this guide and statistically the one with the lowest fatality rate, claiming only twenty or so lives per year. Such figures are a little misleading, however, since unlike the other risks covered in this book crevasse danger exists only in glaciated terrain. Outside those areas there is no risk. On a glacier which includes classic European high mountain resorts such as Chamonix, Zermat and Saas Fee as well as large swathes of off piste in Canada and Alaska - the risk is very real. Skiers, many of whom appear wholly unaware of the risks they are taking, are regularly pulled out of crevasses on the famous Valle Blanche which has claimed its fair share of fatalities over the years.
For a sensible margin of safety on a glacier, even the most experienced mountain travellers needs the right equipment, needs to have knowledge of crevasse rescue techniques, needs to follow sensible travel precautions, and needs to be in a group of at least three people.
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