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Article: Western state wages war against ... snow: Colorado rescue workers are grappling with an avalanche rate that,so far, is triple that of last year.(USA)
- Article from:
- The Christian Science Monitor
- Article date:
- December 27, 2000
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 The Christian Science Publishing Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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In Colorado, there are at least two types of snow: the kind that stays on your nose and eyelashes, and the kind you blow up.
Waging war against the stuff Frosty is made of may sound extreme, but it's how avalanche technicians at ski resorts make slopes safe for the public. The unenviable job of using explosives while on skis is a particularly important one this winter, as conditions in Colorado and neighboring states are ripe for avalanches.
"We are in the midst of a very big avalanche season right now," says Alan Henceroth, director of mountain operations at the Arapahoe Basin ski area.
Of the more than 1 million avalanches that slide ...