Avalanche!: A pocket guide to understanding and reducing risks from Avalanches

People say avalanches are unpredictable. Is that true? And even if it is, is that an excuse for throwing your life away? It is certainly true that no-one is in a position to claim that they can predict every avalanche, and it has to be said that some are particularly baffling, even for the most experienced. Nevertheless, an avalanche is not a supernatural event, and without being able to describe the release mechanisms in all their complexity, it is still possible to identify the majority of hazardous situations. It is enough to be able to 'read' the mountain to reduce considerably the threat posed by the 'white death'. This little guide will assist those who wish to undertake this apprenticeship. In the first instance it permits a wider understanding of the phenomenon, using objective data, but also using the accounts of witnesses and survivors. It reveals some of the indications which, for those who know how to interpret them, will enable a local assessment of avalanche hazard to be made and a number of pitfalls to be avoided. Finally, it provides some rules of thumb, be it for free-riders, ski tourers, walkers or climbers, that will permit safer travel on the mountains.

Table of Contents:
Preface Introduction Avalanches Classification Personal Accounts Risk Assessment Definition of risk Criteria for risk assessment Assessing risk Reducing the Risk Reducing the possibility of avalanche release Reducing potential damage Conclusion Using NivoTest Glossary Index Useful addresses

About the Author :
Robert Bolognesi, PhD, Polytechnic of Lausanne, is a graduate of the Institute of Alpine Geography, Grenoble, former researcher at the Swiss Federal Snow and Avalanche Research Centre, Davos, avalanche control practitioner and founder of METEORISK, specialising in the amelioration of weather-related risks. Avalanche and Snow were translated by Blyth Wright who has climbed and skied extensively in the UK, the Alps and North America for over 40 years. He was formerly Assistant Director of the International School of Mountaineering in Leysin, Switzerland, then worked for 20 years as an Instructor at Glenmore Lodge National Sports Centre. Since 1989 he has acted as Co-ordinator of what is now the sportscotland Avalanche Information Service. He has represented Scotland and the UK at many international meetings of snow and avalanche experts

Review :
'The majority of mountaineers say they know something of the snow and its lifecycle including its ability to avalanche. However, the majority of us are not snow 'experts', yet we sometimes educate others about snow, its deposition and avalanche possibility. Welcome another helpline in the field of snow science. Two little 'mini-guide' books of knowledge aimed at those who want to know more about Snow and its ability to Avalanche. Originally written by Robert Bolognesi and translated by Blyth Wright. These books include a lifetimes' knowledge, yet are written in a simple, informative way and include numerous clear pictures and diagrams to aid the interpretation of the information included in the text. One of the best features of both of these books is that they come in a neat plastic cover, allowing them to be taken out into the weather whilst being afforded some protection from the elements. They each include a card that can be used practically in the field. Avalanche comes with a NivoTest card designed to help quantify the risks from avalanches. The Snow mini-guide comes with a handy snow crystal card for identifying crystals in the snow layer. The books read through in a methodical manner with chapters including how snow changes, snow measurements and interpretation in Snow and personal accounts, risk assessment and reducing the risk in Avalanche. The outcomes of each book being to suggest rules of thumb for making educated guesses and understanding avalanche phenomenon, whereas Snow details the formation and evolution of snow, and shows practical methods of examining and analysing snow cover. The books would be at home on the bookshelf of the occasional winter mountaineer, skier, snowboarder, as they are with the Winter ML or MIC or guide.' (Dave Brown / AMI news)'The small size of this attractive new series launched by Cicerone will make them very suitable for carrying on the hill. All are well illustrated with colour photos, sketches and map, and have solid plastic covers.Snow and Avalanche! follows from the other, and their subtitles adequately describe their contents. The photographs and sketches in both are very clear.Avalanche! is a bit more skier-orientated, but a section on risk assessment is valuable for everyone skiing or snow-climbing. It has a Nivo-test card to help assess the risk.'(Irish Mountain Log / Summer 2007)Check out the reviews on the following websites: Scotclimb.org.uk