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An avalanche has three main parts. The starting zone, avalanche track and runout zone. The starting zone is the most unstable area. It is where the snow breaks away from the existing snow layers and slide down. Majority are more to the summits of the slope/mountain. However, this can happen anywhere on the slope as long as conditions are suitable. The avalanche track is the path taken by an avalanche. A vertical line of missing trees or chute-like clearings tell us that it is the avalanche track of large avalanches that occur frequently. The runout zone is where the snow and debris come to a stop. Although gullies or small boulders have conditions that will bury a person further up the slope during. This area is where people will most likely be buried. |