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PhrasesHiking in ItalyC'è rischio di valanghe su questo versante?
B2

C'è rischio di valanghe su questo versante?

Is there an avalanche risk on this slope?

Pronunciation

Valanghe: vah-LANG-gheh. The gh makes a hard g. Versante: ver-SAN-teh — slope or hillside.

When to use it

Essential in late winter or spring conditions. Ask mountain guides, ski patrol, or local alpine associations before traversing snow-covered slopes.

What it means

C'è rischio di means 'is there a risk of'. Valanghe is the plural of valanga — avalanche. Versante is 'slope' or 'face' of a mountain. A critical safety question for winter/spring Alpine hiking.

Variations

Qual è il grado di pericolo valanghe oggi?

What is today's avalanche danger rating?

Italy uses the 1-5 European avalanche danger scale.

Hai il ARTVA?

Do you have an avalanche transceiver?

ARTVA is the Italian acronym for avalanche transceiver — mandatory for off-piste skiing.

Non attraversiamo quel canale.

Let's not cross that couloir.

Canale/couloir — steep snow channel, high avalanche risk.

Mini Dialogue

— C'è rischio di valanghe su questo versante? — Il grado è tre oggi. Evitate i pendii ripidi esposti a nord. — Abbiamo l'ARTVA e la pala. — Bene. Ma con grado tre, io non andrei comunque oltre il crinale.

— Is there an avalanche risk on this slope? — The danger is grade three today. Avoid steep north-facing slopes. — We have the transceiver and the shovel. — Good. But with grade three, I still wouldn't go beyond the ridge.

Cultural Note

Italy's avalanche forecasting service (AINEVA — Associazione Interregionale Neve e Valanghe) publishes daily danger ratings for all Alpine regions. The bulletin is freely available online and via app. In 2021, an avalanche on the Marmolada glacier killed 11 people — avalanche awareness is taken extremely seriously.