avalanches
Avalanches are massive downward and outward movements of snow and ice as well as soil and rocks. Three main factors that determine whether avalanches are likely to occur are the weather, the snowpack, and the terrain. The weather is the most important factor in determining if an avalanche will occur, but the other two factors need to be taken into consideration as well. Since ninety percent of all avalanches involve human subjects that trigger them, they are a major threat to life (McCafferty 38). Avalanches can leave death and destruction in their path and pose a great threat to the skiing industry. Most ski resorts in the western part of the United States try to prevent avalanches. They acquire specially trained personnel to toss grenade like explosives or shoot a bazooka like shell into the slope. The gun they use to shoot these projectiles is a 105-millimeter recoilless rifle (Cone 148). The explosives trigger the avalanche. They fire them into the mountain early in the morning so that the risk of having an avalanche during ski hours is lowered but even though they do this, it is not a definite that an avalanche could not happen. By studying the mountain the avalanche patrol learns where avalanches normally occur
Ski resorts have recommendations on what to do if you witness an avalanche. First, mark the point of entry where the victim has entered or where the victim was last seen. Second, check for further avalanche danger. Third, fan out in a line above the last place where the victim was seen and walk downhill, probing with sticks or ski poles. Next, unless your party is large do not send back for help until you have searched for at least an hour. About half of all avalanche victims suffocate within the first thirty minutes and most rescue attempts from town end up being a body search (McCafferty 38) Western states have Skier Safety Acts which skiers need to obey. When certain ski study areas are closed skiers need to follow the rules. The Ski Patrol could set off a slide on top of violators or the trespassers could set a slide on top of the patrollers. The violators are fined and have their ski passes suspended (Sisson 102). Since snow slides down mountains at speeds of two hundred miles per hour it can cause death and destruction to towns, cities, and roads. When the snow comes down the mountain at this extremely fast speed it levels everything in its path including humans, roads, and buildings. It also cost the government a lot of money to clean up after the wall of snow, or avalanche, settles. Heavy machinery is needed to remove the snow and debris out of the towns or off the roads and this takes many hours to do and is extremely expensive. Avalanche experts offer these recommendations for skiers to follow so they can avoid or deal with avalanches. Their first rule is to know your terrain. Most avalanches occur on mountains
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Approximate Word count = 1113
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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