Avalanches

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Avalanches

• By A. H.
• And
• A. C.

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What is an avalanche?

• An avalanche is a large mass of snow, ice, dirt,
  and rocks, rapidly falling or sliding down the
  side of a mountain.

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When and where do avalanches occur?

• Avalanches occur on steep mountains packed with a
  lot of snow. They happen normally during April,
  May, and June when the snow starts to melt, but
  they can happen all year round in some places.
• Accidents in recent years occurred in most
  Scottish mountain areas, as well as the English
  Lakes, the Cheviots, the Pennines, and Wales.
• 90 of avalanches occur during snow storms.

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How does an avalanche occur?

• The starting zone of a avalanche is the most
  uncontrollable area of a slope, where unstable
  snow can detach from the surrounding snow cover
  and begin to slide.
• The avalanche track is the path that the
  avalanche follows.
• The runout zone is where the snow and debris come
  to a stop.

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How to protect your self from an avalanche?

• When crossing a slope that has a possibility of
  an avalanche tighten clothing, loosen pack, and
  remove ski pool straps.
• If you have an avalanche beacon switch it to
  transmit.
• If you are in a group you should cross the slope
  one at a time to reduce the risk.

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Avalanche Danger Scale

• Low
• Green
• Moderate
• Yellow
• Considerable
• Orange
• High
• Red
• Extreme
• Black

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Examples

• Avalanche in a backcountry area between the Sugar
  Bowl and Squaw Valley Ski Resorts north of Lake
  Tahoe.
• February 13, 2005
• 1 victim died
• Many victims were trapped for 1-2 days

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Works Cited

• Avalanche Awareness
• http//nsidc.org/snow/avalanche/WHEN
• Pictures and info
• About Avalanches
• http//www.sais.gov.uk/about_avalanches/
• Pictures and info
• California Avalanches
  http//www.sfgate.com/cgi-
  bin/article.cgi?file/c/a/2005/02/21/BAGKHBEPVL1.D
  TLtypeprintable
• Info