Dragons in the Snow
Avalanche Detectives and the Race to Beat Death in the Mountains
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Edward Power sets the reader down in the midst of a February 2017 blizzard that raked Utah’s Uinta Range as nine snowboarders made their way into the backcountry for a day of intense adventure. As the boarders were taking their first turns, expert avalanche forecaster Craig Gordon was tracking the storm and its impact, posting one of the most dire avalanche forecasts and warnings in his career.
In Dragons in the Snow, Power delves into the research and science behind avalanche forecasting and rescue, weaving in the art of backcountry skiing as well as dramatic tales of avalanche accidents, rescues, and recoveries. And he paints compelling portraits of the men and women who have made the study of avalanches their life’s work. The tales told by these avalanche forecasters, as well as the stories of the backcountry riders who may "wake the dragon" make for not just a compelling read, but also a powerful tool for raising avalanche awareness in everyone who plays in the winter backcountry.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Outdoor enthusiast Power brings a credible expertise to his scattered, intermittently effective debut, a mishmash of avalanche science and sports reportage. He tells the stories of a wide variety of people involved in backcountry winter sports, including skiers, snowboarders, equipment manufacturers, and, most centrally, avalanche forecaster Craig Gordon. In relating Gordon's efforts to understand snowpack (the accumulated layers of snow in cold-weather regions), educate the public, and contend with both the immediate aftermath of avalanches and the looming threat of climate change, Power effectively demonstrates the complexity of dealing with avalanches. The frequent use of jargon "powder fest," "rooster tail turns" and detailed descriptions of skiing equipment and films of high-risk ski stunts will likely be rough sledding for the uninitiated. However, such readers should appreciate Power's visceral writing on avalanches, which includes fascinating details from people who have survived them and vivid descriptions of how they're set in motion ("Once a cornice ruptures and falls to the face below, its weight frequently is the tripwire that sets off an avalanche with the power of a localized hurricane"). Written with the snow adventurer in mind, this may leave those who prefer more manicured runs, or staying inside by a roaring fireplace, in the cold.
