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General Discussion / Re: AVANLANCHE THEORY
« Last post by GlennM on Today at 01:59:09 PM »I believe the interest in avalanches is related to being caught under the crushing weight of the snow with attendant injuies and secondly, suffocation. I think more emphasis has been put on proving that an avalanche produced enough snow to bury the tent and leaving residue around the tent site. From what we are given in photographs and rescuers eye witness testimony, the tent was not buried or knocked down as one is accustomed to expect in an avalanche.
For me, I think the suffocation hazzard is more to the point. Imagine up to nine people, close tiled in that tent. If snow shifted, driftied or built up in eddy currents covering the tent, the canvas is going to make a seal. Once someone raises an alarm, the first course of action would be to bang on the tent to knock the snow off. However, if the snow was too heavy and thick, then what to do? Get out! Cut your way out of crawl out. Once outside, why not clear off the snow and go back in? I suspect that it was too snowy, windy and cold to do that. Better to make for the woods.
For me, I think the suffocation hazzard is more to the point. Imagine up to nine people, close tiled in that tent. If snow shifted, driftied or built up in eddy currents covering the tent, the canvas is going to make a seal. Once someone raises an alarm, the first course of action would be to bang on the tent to knock the snow off. However, if the snow was too heavy and thick, then what to do? Get out! Cut your way out of crawl out. Once outside, why not clear off the snow and go back in? I suspect that it was too snowy, windy and cold to do that. Better to make for the woods.