| Avalanches are one of those natural occurrences | | | | fewer lives lost and a higher probability that someone |
| that only Mother Nature knows when and where | | | | can get assistance for the trapped victims. |
| they're going to occur. Even with modern technology | | | | There are areas of higher risk for avalanches and |
| it's still impossible to know exactly when or where | | | | these should be avoided. Since an incident is more |
| one is going to occur. For mountain climbers this is a | | | | likely when a top layer of snow is loose, avoid areas |
| major concern and they are wise to be mindful of | | | | where heavy snow or rain has recently occurred. A |
| them; avalanches kill many each year. | | | | concave slope is a better choice than a convex one |
| The physics of how and why an avalanche occurs is | | | | for climbing and hiking around since there is less snow |
| complex. Layers of rock and feet of snow are | | | | fall or it's already avalanched. |
| stacked and held together by the weight of each | | | | Try to choose terrain that you are familiar with and |
| other. Many variables can lead to the adjustment of | | | | stay in areas with rock, bushes and trees. Trees and |
| this bond and the forces of gravity can lead to the | | | | bushes allow snow to pile up and keep the layers |
| catastrophe. | | | | stable. If an avalanche occurs, trees will take the |
| While it's hard to predict when and where an | | | | impact of the snow so there is a better chance of |
| avalanche will take place, there are times of higher | | | | being out of harms way. Avalanches are much more |
| probability. During the year, the transition from winter | | | | likely to occur in areas with smooth ground so avoid |
| to spring will cause some snow and ice to melt which | | | | these areas. |
| tends to trigger avalanches. Also at day break there | | | | Climbers must also pay attention to the degree of |
| is a higher probability due to the temperature change. | | | | the slope. Avalanches won't occur on level ground |
| Unfortunately there is no way to know when or | | | | and there is little snowfall on very steep terrain. The |
| where one is going to occur so climbers always need | | | | greatest danger is in areas where the slope is |
| to exercise caution. | | | | between 25 and 40 degrees. |
| Stay alert while climbing and don't overburden | | | | Avalanches are of real concern and climbers need to |
| yourself with the thought of an avalanche. This | | | | take precautions to avoid areas and times of greater |
| worrying may cause you to loose your concentration | | | | chance of occurrence. Remember that if you get |
| or even panic. | | | | stuck in an avalance then there is no car hire available |
| While hiking up slopes, keep some distance between | | | | to take you to the nearest airport. |
| the climbers. If an avalanche occurs then there will be | | | | |