danger

Severe Weather: Watch For Snow Squall Warnings This Winter

Snow Squalls

The National Weather Service is rolling out a new severe weather alert that warns of intense, but short periods of snowfall and wind resulting in reduced visibility called snow squalls. Related: New NOAA App Brings Cool Earth and Space Animations to Your Phone Snow squalls are quick bursts of intense snow accompanied by strong, gusty winds. They’re typically short-lived, lasting […]
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WeatherBrains |
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Know Before You Go | CAIC Warns of ‘Considerable’ Avalanche Danger in Vail, CO Area

avalanche, colorado, i70

A combination of heavy snowfall and high winds has created significant avalanche danger in the backcountry of Eagle and Summit counties, warns Scott Miller in Vail Daily. Following over 2-feet of fresh snow this weekend, Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) initially issued warnings about “high” avalanche danger for much of the central Rocky Mountains, including the Vail and Summit County area, […]
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AvyBrains |
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STUDY: 30% of All Avalanche Fatalities in Western USA Occurred During an Atmospheric River

  Research published by Benjamin Hatchet, Susan Burak, Jon Rutz, Nina Oakley, Edward Bair, and Michael Kaplan in the Journal of Hydrometerology suggests a strong link between Atmospheric River (AR) events and avalanche deaths. According to their research, 31% of avalanche fatalities between 1998 and 2014 occurred either during or shortly after an AR event. West Coast skiers got very […]
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Roger Romani |
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HAPE: The Silent Killer at Ten Thousand Feet

HAPE is one of the greatest dangers when mountain climbing.

High-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is an extremely dangerous form of altitude sickness that can often have fatal consequences. As opposed to acute mountain sickness and high altitude cerebral edema, which are caused by a decrease in oxygen concentration and brain swelling, HAPE is caused by an increase in pulmonary pressure during a significant ascent. While some of their symptoms overlap, […]
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Lucy Ferneyhough |
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2 Hikers Die in 1-Week on the Pacific Crest Trail | 4 Have Already Died on the PCT This Year

The bodies of Rika Morita and Chaocui Wang have been located in respective water flows along the Pacific Crest Trail, only seven days apart, according to the Pacific Crest Trail Association.  Morita, visiting from Japan to solo-hike the trail, was found in the South Fork of the Kings River.  Wang was from China, and perished alone in Rancheria Creek in Kerrick Canyon, farther downstream […]
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Spencer Miller |
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Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain: Dangerous Assumptions

We’ve all had those bluebird days of touring when every turn you make is in deep blower pow; nothing beats it. Turn after turn throws cold smoke in your face, and your hand aches at the end of the day from the endless high-fives. Often, however, these days come with a less-than-stable snowpack. It is easy to let your adrenaline overcome your better judgment, which can often inhibit decision-making. More times than not, you will get away with that sick powder run on these sorts of days, but you shouldn’t let this influence your decision making process in the future. […]
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Keegan Kliman |
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19-Year Old Swept Off 594-Foot Nevada Falls in Yosemite | Waterfall Safety Information:

Yosemite’s waterfalls are some of the most beautiful in the world.  Yosemite has countless waterfalls but most visitors come to see the the biggest 10 waterfalls in the park.  594-foot Nevada Falls is one of the biggest and easiest to access and access is via the spectacular Mist Trail. Unfortunately, Yosemite’s waterfalls also prove deadly every year.  Swift, cold spring snowmelt flows down slick granite […]
Miles Clark |
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