A couple of weeks ago I was trying to think of a way to explain avalanches when I glanced out my office window and realized it was right in front of me.  So I whipped out my cell phone camera and took three pictures.  I will eventually label them better than they are now and I will compress them a bit for Web viewing, but if you go to http://hankmanz.phanfare.com/4554605_5012217#imageID=92492496

you will get a hint of how cornices (overhangs) and avalanches form.  Just go to the site and then select Slide Show which will show you the captions.  There are ten seconds between slides which may not be enough time.  Loop through it a couple of times in that case.

Keep in mind how heavy that snow was.  It was like trying to shovel cement.  Now picture and overhang 25 feet in the air which comes crashing down …

I will have blowups of the pictures at the meeting tonight and next week since it fits into the winter outdoor training segment nicely.

-Hank Manz