Snow Sense

 

Product Description

Title: Snow Sense. A Guide to Evaluating Snow Avalanche Hazard.
Authors: Jill Fredston and Doug Fesler
Paperback: 120 pages
Publisher: Alaska Mountain Safety Center, Incorporated; 5th edition (May 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0964399407
ISBN-13: 978-0964399402
Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5 x 0.4 inches

"Snow Sense" is a best-selling, easy to read, informative avalanche safety book. Intended for skiers, snowmachiners, snowboarders, climbers and others who work and play in avalanche country, "Snow Sense" is written to help backcountry travelers learn to recognize, evaluate, and avoid snow avalanche hazards. This is not an encyclopeadic reference by any means. In fact, it's more like a Ciff's Notes on the topic of traveling safely in snow; however, it is a worthwhile read and touches on the basics of the following:

• Types of avalanches
  
• Avalanche evaluation process
  
• Terrain and contributing weather
  
• Determining if the snow can slide
  
• Alternatives and consequences
  
• Decision making using a checklist
  
• Route selection and safe travel practices
  

Avalanche accidents do not happen by accident; they happen for particular reasons. This book addresses the critical terrain, snowpack, and weather variables that make it possible for a slope to avalanche along with the human factors that allow most accidents to happen. If you don't want to become an avalanche victim, read this book. As usual, this is just one of many references to be used to educate yourself about snowy mountain terrain.

About the Authors

Doug Felser and Jill Fredston are avalanche professionals and run the non-profit Alaska Mountain Safety Center, Inc. They specialize in avalanche hazard evaluation, forecasting, mitigation, and education.

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