How to avoid an avalanche
With Arno de Jong,
17.01.25
Imagine yourself high up in the mountains on a 48-hour hike with an old friend. Light snow is forecast and you’ve prepared for that. But when the snow comes it’s far heavier than expected, and avalanche risk is all around…
This is what happened last winter to mountain leader Arno de Jong and his closest childhood friend, Anton. Their low-risk adventure became a critical personal test – of strength, courage, and resilience.
In his conversation with Sally-Anne, Arno recounts his adventure, how he dealt with the fear and led his friend to safety, and what his encounter can teach others.
Reasons to listen
- Hear an inspiring story of partnership, decision-making, and overcoming fear in high-stakes situations.
- Discover how to effectively assess and adapt to unpredictable conditions in challenging environments.
- Learn about the importance of having contingency plans and being ready to adapt to changing circumstances.
Highlights
- [00:01:21] A simple winter hike
- [00:05:03] Breaking in to escape the cold
- [00:14:48] A steep and icy climb
- [00:25:35] Arno’s risk assessment grid
- [00:29:11] Post-adventure analysis
- [00:33:00] What Arno learned
- [00:37:43] Mountains speak, wise men listen
- [00:40:35] What “fearless forward” means for Arno
- [00:44:24] What we’ve learned
Resources
