[ a v a l a n c h e s   :   g l o s s a r y ]

Below are definitions of important avalanche terms.

• avalanche: a large mass of snow, ice, soil or rock, which detaches from a mountain slope and slides or falls suddenly downward; the sliding or falling of rocks, snow or other materials down the side of a mountain
• avalauncher: a cannon, powered by compressed nitrogen, that can hurl a two-pound projectile 2,000 yards. It is used to break up unstable snow, allowing it to avalanche and leaving more stable snow in place
• Bannwalder: an area of woodland in an avalanche zone, which cannot be cut or disturbed because it is a natural barrier to avalanches
• banned woods: an area of woodland in an avalanche zone, which cannot be cut or disturbed because it is a natural barrier to avalanches
• breakaway zone: the area where an avalanche is most likely to start or break away
• depth hoar: a layer of snow made up of round or cup-shaped crystals that act like ball bearings, allowing the layer of snow on top to slide of easily; also known as sugar snow
• gallery: a wooden, steel or concrete barrier or bridge built in known avalanche paths; a gallery allows cascading snow to pass over highways and railroad racks
• metamorphose: scientific term to describe the change in snow as it settles
• probe line: a line of 20 to 30 people, standing elbow to elbow, who advanced up a slope, poking into the snow with long poles in an effort to find victims buried by an avalanche
• slab: a layer of snow that breaks loose and avalanches
• sleet: falling snow or hail that has partly melted; partly frozen rain
• stabilized snow: a layer of snow that has metamorphosed; snow that has been packed down so that it will not avalanche; rangers stabilize a ski run, for example, by blowing up an unstable layer of snow, leaving only packed, safe snow for skiing

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