Learning to Survivive an Avalanche in the Backcountry - 12/24/10 06:15 AM
Learning to Survive an Avalanche in the Backcountry
The backcountry is drawing more skiers than ever — and avalanche-safety skills are crucial
By Michael Kodas
New York Times
It was a skier's fantasy: 4 feet of powdery, fresh snow draped across the backcountry of Red Mountain Pass in Colorado. But the dream quickly turned nightmarish when, just a few feet from my skis, the slope tore open and a gash ripped across the mountain like a zipper. I fell into a shallow crevice and watched as a slab of snow broke into chunks that tumbled down like giant cinderblocks.....
The backcountry is drawing more skiers than ever — and avalanche-safety skills are crucial
By Michael Kodas
New York Times
It was a skier's fantasy: 4 feet of powdery, fresh snow draped across the backcountry of Red Mountain Pass in Colorado. But the dream quickly turned nightmarish when, just a few feet from my skis, the slope tore open and a gash ripped across the mountain like a zipper. I fell into a shallow crevice and watched as a slab of snow broke into chunks that tumbled down like giant cinderblocks.....