This page offers detailed background information for some of the main sections covered in “Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain: a field book for winter backcountry users” by Pascal Haegeli, Roger Atkins and Karl Klassen. Some of these documents are still in development, so please check in frequently to make sure you have the latest and most up-to-date information.
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Decision Making In Avalache Terrain
There is much more to decision making in avalanche terrain than can be covered in a field book. This document presents a detailed discussion of decision making by highlighting the parallels between the processes of a professional mountain guide and a recreationists.
Avalanche Problem Essentials
The following documents contain detailed descriptions of the different avalanche problems. For each of the eight avalanche problems, we describe the typical conditions that lead to the development of the avalanche problem, examine the associated avalanche activity patterns, discuss how to best recognize and assess this condition in the field, and highlight effective risk management strategies.
Snowpack Test Essentials
Snow profiles can help you to better understand the snowpack, particularly the development of persistent instabilities. However, using this information to assess snow stability is a complex subject. This document provides a detailed discussion of the value and limitation of snow profiles for decision making in avalanche terrain
How to Use the Daily Trip Form
A detailed description of how to use the daily trip form including a guide to the abbreviations can be found on pages 14 and 15 of the field book. This document provides more detailed explanations of the various observations and terms used in the daily trip forms.
Calling for Outside Help
Pages 60 – 62 of the field book provide a quick reference for how to best call outside help if you end up in an emergency situation in the backcountry. The following document provides a more in-depth discussion of different means to make contact, what information to communicate, and what type of response you can expect when that call is made.
Selected Background Readings
This document offers a selected list of useful background readings related to topics covered in this field book.
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Order your fieldbook today. $18.Avalanche Problem Essentials - Loose Snow Avalanches
downloadAvalanche Problem Essentials - Wet Slabs
downloadAvalanche Problem Essentials - Cornices
downloadAvalanche Problem Essentials - Wind Slabs
downloadAvalanche Problem Essentials - Storm Slabs
downloadAvalanche Problem Essentials - Persistent Slabs
downloadAvalanche Problem Essentials - Deep Persistent Slabs
downloadHow to Use the Daily Trip Form
downloadRescue Reference - Calling for Outside Help
downloadReferences for Decisionmaking in Avalanche Terrain
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