Originally published on March 8, 2021 10:00 am
Dangerous conditions in the backcountry this winter highlight a potential cause that scientists continue to study: the connection between avalanches and the climate crisis.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center counts at least 33 avalanche deaths across the country so far this season. That number eclipses the 23 fatalities for the entire winter the year before – and several years prior.
The link between the climate crisis and avalanches is unclear. Still, snow scientists like Jordy Hendrikx, director of Montana State University’s Snow and Avalanche Lab, say weather events this winter are consistent with climate change models.
Hendrikx explains it this way: Avalanches reflect the weather and when the climate changes, weather becomes more extreme. That includes periods of drought followed by precipitation, a pattern that has repeatedly emerged this winter.
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This avalanche near Colorado s Loveland Pass caught and killed a backcountry snowboarder who was riding alone on Feb. 14. The red circle indicates where the avalanche buried the rider.
Dangerous conditions in the backcountry this winter highlight a potential cause that scientists continue to study: the connection between avalanches and the climate crisis.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center counts at least 33 avalanche deaths across the country so far this season. That number eclipses the 23 fatalities for the entire winter the year before – and several years prior.
The link between the climate crisis and avalanches is unclear. Still, snow scientists like Jordy Hendrikx, director of Montana State University’s Snow and Avalanche Lab, say weather events this winter are consistent with climate change models.
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What it feels like to be trapped in an avalanche
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A series of avalanches has devastated Switzerland recently, leaving eight dead â including a British and an Irish national. In France, there has also been a number of fatalities, as local risk levels are increased following heavy snowfall.
Most people will never experience the terror of being caught in an avalanche, but professional snowboarder and photographer Johno Verity unfortunately did 13 years ago â and caught his terrifying experience on camera. He revealed to Telegraph Travel how it feels when the unthinkable happens:
âIn 2008 I was in New Zealand, near Mount Cook. Ironically, I was there to film a piece about avalanches for a television series called Gethin Jonesâ Danger Hunters. A huge storm had descended and weâd been stuck in the hotel for days. On the first blue-sky day, we jumped into the helicopter. We got to our spot and there were two entries into this run. I chose the more