Avalanche Facts
The range of slopes angles at which most avalanches occur
What is 30-45 degrees
SWE is an acronym for
What is "Snow Water Equivalent"
The Ute name for Wilson Peak
What is Shandoka
The first place in the country to initiate a backcountry radio program
What is Telluride
The avalanche problem we commonly associate with collapsing and whumphing in the snowpack
What is Persistent Slab
What does the "P" and "12" mean in ECTP 12
What is "propagation and the number of taps it took to produce the failure"
The first and second-most common avalanche problems for us in the San Juans?
What is:
1. Persistent Slab
2. Wind Slab
The way monitor ALL the radio traffic for a specific zone
What is tune in to the open channel for that area
The *ideal* slope angle for avalanche release
What is 37-38 degree
Under "LOW" avalanche danger, its still possible to trigger small avalanche in these areas
Most dangerous month for avalanche incidents in Colorado.
February
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).
The name for upper edge of an avalanche debris pile
What is the stauchwall
The main identifier of a "Facet" snow grain
What is "angular square edges"?
The prevailing wind direction for the western San Juans (our area)
Southwest
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.
The five red flags to indicate potentially unstable snow
What is: Recent Avalanches, New Snow, Strong Winds, Cracking or Collapsing, Big Rise in Temperature
The driver of the faceting process
What is "a strong temperature gradient in the snowpack"?
What local basin was the site of the deadliest avalanche incident in Colorado history?
Liberty Bell Basin, 1902, 24 miners killed.
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!