by E. R. LaChapelle

isbn: 0898861039
subject: Nonfiction, Outdoors
finished: 6/1/2002

I don't know a lot about avalanches; I only climb in the snow where it's obviously safe unless I'm with more experienced folks. A book -- even a good one -- is a very poor substitute for actual experience in the snow, but it can still provide a framework on which to hang future knowledge. This book does a good job providing such a framework.

The crux of the problem of avalanche forecasting is that one must work with very incomplete knowledge, and that a misprediction can easily be deadly. LaChapelle's book does a good job outlining the different kinds of information about avalanche conditions, e.g. direct knowledge that comes from seeing an avalanche fall, indirect knowledge gained by testing snow conditions, and even more indirect knowledge that comes from weather history and forecast. Also covered are search and rescue procedures following a slide, with an emphasis on locating victims as quickly as possible. I recommend this book, but realize that it'll stress you out of you do what I did: finish reading it the night before a big snow climb.