Most avalanches occur after a big snowstorm ... a layer of square-shaped snowflakes called faceted crystals can form a weak layer. These snow crystals have strong angular edges that resemble ...

Challan rode over a weak layer of snow that was buried under newer snow, about mid-slope, Wagner said. When the slide happened, the center's staff was conducting an avalanche awareness day in a ...

A Flight for Life helicopter airlifted a skier who sustained injuries on Sunday, April 20 in an avalanche on Grizzly Peak, ...

The weak layer can be broken on a flat track, but that wouldn't cause an avalanche because there is no slope for the snow to come down. "When we have avalanche conditions like this, as avalanche ...