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Snow Sense is probably the best introductory source
of basic avalanche information in print. Jill Fredston and
Doug Fesler get loads of experience running the Alaska Mountain
Safety Center and it shows! They have a unique ability to
present really complex and difficult material in a manner
that a) doesn't put you to sleep and b) sticks in your head.
I like the avalanche triangle and bulls-eye metaphors for
determining avalanche hazard and often use them in my avalanche
awareness presentations. The book is small and cheap, so you'll
be inclined to take it with you and read it in the snow cave.
This book is in stock (or can be ordered through) the
Moab Information
Center if you are nearby and want it NOW.
 
Reviewed by: FF on 3/6/99
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The ABC'S of Avalanche Safety is similar to Snow
Sense in that it is small and cheap. That's about it.
This little book is like the phone booth in Dr. Who--it
looks tiny but holds an entire spaceship! If you take this
book to bed with you, it is guaranteed to cure your insomnia,
but it also happens to be the densest source of detailed
avalanche information I've ever run across. Written by the
snow legend, Ed Lachapelle, it is an awesome reference when
you have a specific question about snow science. ABC's is
a primary text used in the National Ski Patrol avalanche
training program.
This book is a great companion to Snow Sense and
is also available through the Moab
Information Center.
Reviewed by: FF on 3/6/99
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The Avalanche Handbook was released a few years back
as a replacement for the venerable and out of print Agricultural
Handbook #489 which was the US Forest Service avalanche bible.
Peter Schaerer and David McClung are prominent Canadian snow
guys who've been around the block a few times. If you are
science-oriented and REALLY need to know "why?", this book
has no equal and should satisfy you.
I still have a preference for the old
handbook with its funky pictures of macho Alta snow
rangers firing their 75mm recoilless rifle without ear protection
and descriptions of "modern" backcountry ski and avalanche
equipment made of leather, wood and bamboo. This updated
version is more to date, however and includes less peripheral
information and more stuff most people will want to know
(they left out the section on constructing euro-style avalanche
disipation mounds, for instance). This is probably the most
complete single source of avalanche information currently
in print (but don't pass up a chance to buy the old handbook,
either!).
Reviewed by: FF on 3/6/99
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When I first read Avalanche Safety for Skiers and Climbers,
I was a real nerd, obsessed with the science of snow. I
was terribly disappointed in this book. Years later, when
I read it again, I was pleasantly surprised! This book is
not for science geeks, it's for skiers and climbers (go
figure!) and it's loaded with practical information you
need to go play in steep snowy places. That doesn't mean
the book skimps on the snow science, it just doesn't get
quite as technical as The Avalanche Handbook.
Reviewed by: FF on 3/6/99
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John Moynier managed to pack lots of useful
information into his booklet Avalanche Awareness: A Practical
Guide to Safe Travel in Avalanche Terrain. Research indicates
that you have to receive the same information three times
before you actually absorb it, and I find that different presentations
help hammer out the salient details. With this in mind, you
could do much worse than ordering this little book as a supplement
to more in-depth texts.
I especially like the booklet's shadow boxes that outline
the critical information in each section.
Reviewed by: FF on 3/18/99
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For several generations now, backcountry enthusiasts have
been getting their first introduction to avalanche danger
and winter mountaineering skills from this venerable text.
Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills is a general
mountaineering and climbing book, but its section on snow
mechanics and avalanches is better than many dedicated avalanche
books. If you can only buy one book, make this the one because
it includes all the other skills and knowledge you need to
stay out of trouble in avalanche terrain. Sections on clothing,
equipment, route-finding, navigation, mountain weather, snow
climbing technique, rope protection and rescue systems are
as good as it gets.
It's rather remarkable that Freedom of the Hills
can cover so many topics in such depth and clarity. There's
definitely a reason why this book by the Seattle Mountaineers
is now in its 6th edition! The title is available in hardcover
or paperback and you can find the quaint earlier editions
through Chessler
Books.
Reviewed
by: FF on 3/18/99
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There's nothing like painlessly learning from the mistakes
of others! Snowy Torrents is a multi-volume compendium
of U.S. avalanche accident descriptions and analyses. This,
the most current volume, covers the years from 1980 to 1986.
You can assess mistakes that were made and get the skinny
on legendary incidents they named ski runs for. You'll also
be amused by some of the names that show up, like Phil and
Steve Mahre and almost everyone who's anyone in the avalanche
world. As Andre Roch said, "Remember, my friend, the avalanche
does not know that you are an expert!"
The previous
volume (1972-79) is also available. Earlier
volumes are out of print. American avalanche incident
descriptions for the years since 1995 are catalogued and
available on-line.
Reviewed by: FF on 3/25/99
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| Canadian
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Avalanche Accidents in Canada - Volume 4
"Look closely at the causes & outcomes of 43 skiing,
17 snowmobiling, 20 hiking/climbing and 9 avalanche accidents
involving roads and buildings. Over 50 photographs and diagrams
illustrate the important terrain features and 27 graphs
show recurring factors associated with the accidents."
Authors: Bruce Jamieson & Torsten Geldsetzer 193 pages,
Paperback, published 1996
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Free Riding in Avalanche Terrain: A Snowboarder's Handbook
" This informative book includes: field tests for
recognizing unstable snow riding techniques for reducing
the risk ways to recognize avalanche hazard selection of
low risk routes phone numbers for avalanche conditions."
Authors: Bruce Jamieson & Jennie McDonald 74 pages, Paperback,
published 1999
The first recreational US avalanche fatality was a skier.
Since then, most avalanche awareness texts were written
by and for skiers, since skiers have been the ones getting
into avalanche terrain the longest. Bruce Jamieson has done
a great job of focusing his booklets on other recreation
groups.
Reviewed by: FF on 2/9/01
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Backcountry Avalanche Awareness
"Now in an expanded 7th edition (78 pages), this
book is for winter mountain recreationists. Based on the
Canadian Avalanche Association's Introductory Recreational
Avalanche Course."
Author: Bruce Jamieson 78 pages, Paperback, published 2000
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Sledding in Avalanche Terrain: Reducing the Risk
"This book includes: search & rescue techniques,
safety measures for sledding in avalanche terrain, field
tests for recognizing unstable snow, avalanche danger ratings
and phone numbers for avalanche conditions."
Authors: Bruce Jamieson & Darcy Svederus 50 pages, Paperback,
published 1998
As far as I know, this is the best (and only) snowmobile-specific
avalanche awareness book out there and it's written to Jamieson's
usual high standards of technical accuracy and concise usefulness.
Reviewed by: FF on 2/9/01
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| British
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Mountaincraft and Leadership. Eric Langmuir
"Although the book does contain quite a bit of information
useful to beginners, it is most useful for those who already
have basic skills and want to learn a leader's perspective
on backcountry activities. The beginner's perspective is
certainly there, and respected, but mostly for the purpose
of encouraging empathy and foresightedness in expedition
leaders."
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A Chance In A Million?. Bob Barton & Blyth Wright
"While the fundamentals of avalanche science are the
same in the Alps, America or Scotland, (this book) highlights
some of the unique aspects of this phenomena in the UK.
First it highlights that avalanches occur outside the Scottish
Highlands - in the Lakes, Peak District, Wales and even
Ireland Secondly, its analysis of UK snow conditions is
superb, providing insight into how the climate here affects
avalanche formation."
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International Mountain Rescue Handbook. Hamish MacInnes
"Last published in 1984 and now updated, an illustrated
reference to modern mountain rescue techniques, which provides
coverage of various topics including equipment, rescue dogs,
snow structure, avalanche search, radio and location equipment,
winches and helicopters."
Hamish MacInnes is one of the great characters of mountaineering
history. His rescue background is immense and his story-telling
unparalleled.
Reviewed by: FF on 2/25/01
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| German
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Drei mal drei (3x3) Lawinen. Entscheiden in kritischen
Situationen. Werner Munter
Great ideas, soon to be translated into English. Includes
Munter's 3x3 technique for ongoing avalanche hazard evaluation,
and his "high-tech, low-brain; low-tech, high-brain"
perspective on avalanche rescue technology.
Reviewed by: FF on 2/24/01
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