After years of physical training and planning for their record-breaking project, La Liste: Everything or Nothing, professional skiers Jérémie Heitz and Sam Anthamatten arrived in Pakistan to find sketchy avalanche conditions on one of their planned routes. Learn what they decided to do and how pro athletes navigate safety management. 

Key Takeaways: Strong partnerships in the mountains are built on clear and honest communication. When faced with high-stakes decisions, the ability to say “no” is essential and something professional athletes do regularly. Changing plans to better suit the realities of the mountain is a success – even if you don’t ride that day. The goal is always to come home safely. Being flexible, taking action to avoid unnecessary risk and identifying “summit fever” tunnel vision towards an objective are the only ways to ensure safe movement in avalanche terrain. At the beginning of the season, practicing with your Basic 4 – beacon, probe, shovel, airbag backpack – builds muscle memory and allows you to focus on the human-element of your avalanche safety protocol.