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In article ,
Kurt Knisely wrote:
In article , Ken
Roberts says...

Booker Bense wrote
IMHO an avalanche transciever is the LAST thing
you need. Avalanche education is the FIRST.

Thanks for sharing a very smart perspective, Booker.

A really helpful book is:
Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain, by Bruce Tremper (Mountaineers, 2001)


I'll agree, it's an excellent book and I left one copy in a new hut in BC to
help christen the hut (have since purchased another). You know though, even the
pros get caught after years and years of experience. They don't always
publicize the event either, other than in the daily avalanche report--no names
mentioned. Of course they spend more time in avalanche terrain than most of us
do through the year even if we ski often.


_ All the recent research I've read looking at actual avalanche
statistics says that experienced people on their local terrain
are the most likely to take excessive risks. If you read enough
accident reports of survivors, you can see a pattern of 20/20
hindsight, where people see the danger signs, but just don't
act on them for whatever reason. Of course if you ski steep
powder, you're more or less going to see some danger signs
every time you ski. I wish I had some good answers about all
this but I don't. However, I think people are coming around to
the realization that dealing with group dynamics and mental
traps is just as important as learning about weak layers.

_ Booker C. Bense



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