Avalanche Facts
Jeff's Questions
San Juan Trivia
Radios!
100

The range of slopes angles at which most avalanches occur

What is 30-45 degrees

100

SWE is an acronym for

What is "Snow Water Equivalent"

100

The Ute name for Wilson Peak

What is Shandoka

100

The first place in the country to initiate a backcountry radio program

What is Telluride

200

The avalanche problem we commonly associate with collapsing and whumphing in the snowpack

What is Persistent Slab

200

What does the "P"  and "12" mean in ECTP 12

What is "propagation and the number of taps it took to produce the failure"

200

The first and second-most common avalanche problems for us in the San Juans?

What is:

1. Persistent Slab

2. Wind Slab

200

The way monitor ALL the radio traffic for a specific zone

What is tune in to the open channel for that area

300

The *ideal* slope angle for avalanche release 

What is 37-38 degree

300

Under "LOW" avalanche danger, its still possible to trigger small avalanche in these areas

What is "isolated areas and extreme terrain"?
300

Most dangerous month for avalanche incidents in Colorado.

February

300

Three things to check at the trailhead regarding your radio

What is: battery life, that you're on the proper channel for the area, and "Radio check?" (that you can hear each other). 

400

The name for upper edge of an avalanche debris pile

What is the stauchwall


400

The main identifier of a "Facet" snow grain

What is "angular square edges"?

400

The prevailing wind direction for the western San Juans (our area) 

Southwest

400

Two things to do on your radio before and after you ski your line

What is announce your "Drop In", and announce that you're "All Clear" of the area. 

500

The five red flags to indicate potentially unstable snow

What is: Recent Avalanches, New Snow, Strong Winds, Cracking or Collapsing, Big Rise in Temperature

500

The driver of the faceting process

What is "a strong temperature gradient in the snowpack"? 

500

What local basin was the site of the deadliest avalanche incident in Colorado history?

Liberty Bell Basin, 1902, 24 miners killed. 

500

The amount of "power" that the new channels transmit on and what it means for their battery life

What is 2 Watt channels require more power and may drain the battery life quicker. Frequent charging is essential! 

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