White Risk: the new-look SLF app

The WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) has completely revamped its White Risk app  in time for the second half of the winter season. "Operation is now simpler and the app is easier to use," explains software developer Julian Fisch from the SLF's Warning and Information Systems group. The White Risk app is aimed at anyone who is off-piste in winter, whether freeriding, hiking, snowshoeing or ski touring. This makes it the all-in-one app for tours, featuring everything from information on current weather, snow and avalanche conditions to help with planning and orientation off-piste.

In the future, it will be even easier to create your own tours and manage your own tour collection. At the same time, the detailed view of key points has been redesigned to give a clearer picture of the off-piste hazards. "What's more, there's now faster synchronisation between computers and smartphones," says Fisch. This makes it even more convenient to plan your next tour on a big screen from the comfort of home, and then transfer this information to a mobile device.

Another new feature is that anyone planning alternative routes to increase flexibility on a scheduled tour will receive detailed information on the elevation profile and estimated duration of the alternative route.

In addition, the SLF team has integrated a host of learning content with e-learning lessons into the app. This aspect is still in the testing phase, but Fisch points out that it is already available to users of the app.