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The ABCs of Avalanches : Know Before You Go
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Before you head off to the mountains, it's a good idea to know how to stay alive out there. If you're smart, you'll take avalanche safety courses or go with expert guides, or both.
If you'd like to read up on the subject before class, check out The ABCs of Avalanches (published by the Mountaineers Books), a pocket safety guide for snowshoers, skiiers, and other backcountry adventurers. This handy introduction to avalanche safety covers the types of avalanches and their triggers, guidelines for evaluating snow stability, safety tips for recreating in the mountains, and rescue information.
For such a small book, The ABCs of Avalanches offers plenty of information. I like how the safety tips are listed and numbered for quick access. However, you'll want to take your time reading this book because it contains a lot of technical terms.
Check out Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain, another Mountaineers title, for more detailed information. This book has more diagrams, photos, and illustrations, as well as chapter summaries to help you learn safety techniques. Staying Alive also instructs readers on route selection and rescue strategies.
Bottom Line: Both books are written by avalanch experts. Of course, reading a book is no safety guarantee...but it can't hurt to be informed. .--E. D. (Feb 07)
Price: $7.95 ABCs, $17.95 Staying Alive
Manufacturer's Site: www.mountaineerbooks.org
Buy Online: ABCs
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