Example: You can use handy charts in the appendices to identify common mistakes that if avoided could have easily mitigated or possibly prevented the accidents. Identify common threads that result in fatal accidents. Grab a copy of “Snowy Torrents 1996-2004” and read every word. To that end, your summer reading assignment is clear.

For decades now we’ve had double digits expansion in folks skiing backcountry and sidecountry avalanche terrain, with a concurrent REDUCTION in fatalities. Yet we’ve had plenty of danger, close calls, and a number of live saves. Yes, we’ve had some unusually good snowpacks over the past few winters. That is simply amazing and strangely under reported, perhaps because humble educators are reluctant to take credit. We have now had two winters with ZERO backcountry skier avalanche deaths. Simply witness what’s happened here in Colorado. In my opinion, the recent ramping up of avalanche education - including the sharing of actual accident scenarios in the media and during avalanche safety classes - has indeed been breaking the cycle. If we…can help break this cycle, we can save lives…” “…The intent is to teach by example, both good and bad” they write, “as you read these personal stories, one fact will become apparent : people repeat the same mistakes over and over.

They succinctly address their motivations in the book’s front material. While I know the authors (Knox Williams and Spencer Logan) and am certain they feel as uncomfortable sharing details of personal tragedies as much as any other empathetic person would. That’s where “Snowy Torrents” comes into play. Often, those tragedies were unnecessary and could have been easily prevented or at least mitigated with a few simple actions. It doesn’t help when I think back on the long list of friends and acquaintances who’ve perished. Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up and quitting. Thus, my writing about this has often been agonal. To be fair, we have total sympathy for anyone involved in any mountain recreation accident, be it snow or otherwise.

Torrentz reviews