Risk assessment and decision making tools for backcountry and off-piste skiing have changed time and again. Basic avalanche knowledge about the main avalanche forming factors has not changed essentially. But how to interact and how to deal with this knowledge in practice seems not to be as easy. Over the last 30 years decision making concepts reached from decision making with Rutschblock test to risk calculation on the basis of danger degree, terrain features and behaviour. In this presentation common tools are looked at from a practical point of view. It is important to focus on the main key factors. Therefore, pattern recognition plays an important role to consider “what is the main problem?” Some ideas for decision making are presented considering also human factors.