I’m not sure if this is good or bad news, but regardless, it’s news. The New York Times just ran a story on the science of avalanches. As any backcountry skier knows, understanding how avalanches work is a bit of art and science…and, in my opinion, luck. The story is no doubt in response to the many avalanche fatalities so far this year.

There have been 31 fatalities this winter season, 16 in the United States and 15 in Canada, including three snowmobilers in separate avalanches on Saturday in Idaho and Montana. The record in the United States is 35 in the winter of 2001-02. Three of this winter’s fatalities occurred within the boundaries of ski trails in commercial skiing areas, which is highly unusual, because of the careful forecasting and control work done in skiing areas.

If you’re going to take anything away from this story, it should be this:

The key to improving forecasting, Dr. Adams said, is understanding the surface layer, where sun and cold cause the snow crystals to change. Understanding the energy transfer on the surface can provide information about what is going on underneath.

I’ll be heading down to Salt Lake and Steamboat in a month, hoping, of course, to get in some days touring (as well as watching the National Championship Telemark Races. My biggest concern is not knowing the snow pack, but thankfully there are avalanche center websites out there that should help with this.

The NY TImes articles can be read HERE