As a new beginner with only a couple of seasons in the backcountry, this book has been game-changing. Starting in September, bust it out and start reading whenever you have down time, before bed, when you're avoiding work and daydreaming about skiing, etc.
Written in a highly approachable way that sticks - who knows how many lives this piece of literature has saved?
Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain
This detailed safety guide, written by the former Director of the Utah Avalanche Center, Bruce Tremper, is a must for anyone that spends time out-of-bounds. Complete with a staggering 180 photos and diagrams, this book is not a replacement for an Avy Safety Course, but should be used by everyone to supplement their knowledge of safe travel in dangerous terrain.
This revised and updated third edition of Bruce's best-selling book is organized according to the structure of American Avalanche Association classes, and all topics have been updated and reviewed by peer experts. This edition also features a wholly new chapter in which Bruce pulls all the pieces together to create an organized, step-by-step system for making decisions both off and on the mountain.
Update 2019/20: 3rd Edition
- Revised according to the structure of American Avalanche Association classes.
- New chapter with step-by-step system for decision making on/off the mountain.
Related Products
Questions & Reviews
Comment on this review:
This is the quintessential, classic piece of literature for aspiring or current avalanche enthusiasts. Bruce Tremper delivers critical information to readers sans condescending or overly nerdy tones. The must-have book!
Comment on this review:
The avalanche awareness bible as far as I’m concerned. Tremper’s guide is extremely dense and provides in-depth technical instruction on snow science as well as a very thoughtful section on the human factor. I try to skim it every year and seem to pick up more information as I gain experience.
Comment on this review:
Every year I will pull this book out in November and start going through the basics again. This is sorta my Bible for skiing and gave me such a leg up in knowledge when I was first starting out. Knowledge is the one thing you can have an infinite supply with you to to carry.
Comment on this review:
highly highly recommend. I have had this book over 15 years and still reference it. a must have for any backcountry skier of any flavor. Read this book. Read the avy report every day. repeat.
Comment on this review:
A great read and well written. A good one for the library to go back and reference from time to time. Bruce Tremper is a very knowledgeable resource and really helps to dial in the spidey senses.
Comment on this review:
I used to read this book once a year to get me in the avalanche mindset going into a season. I don't read it quite that often anymore, but the information contained within is no less important. This book covers just about everything covered in your typical avalanche class, so it makes a good refresher when your a few months post course.
Comment on this review:
Great resource for info on snow science and safety. Tremper does a great job presenting information in an engaging way. I expected to be put to sleep but its an entertaining read.
Comment on this review:
A great, less-technical resources for those who like to learn from the book in addition to in class. Compared to "Snow Sense", there is a little more decision-making and technical info in this, but still an easy read. Compared to "Avalanche Handbook", there is a more friendly amount and level of information in this for recreational users.
Comment on this review:
Reading the first edition of this book inspired me to take my first advanced avalanche course (back in 2003 when Level 2 courses were relatively rare).
And now for years I’ve been assigning it to all the avalanche courses I teach.
Yes, it’s that good!
My only minor quibbles are:
- The snow stability tests are kind of a stretch to learn from a book.
- Overall the book overemphasizes the ability to make safe decisions based on stability assessments (given the inherent uncertainty in almost all winter snowpacks).
- Although the second edition came out relatively soon after the first edition (with some very nice updates), the book could benefit now from a third edition to incorporate more recent research (as does the author’s shorter “Avalanche Essentials” book).
But the bottomline is that whatever your background, if you’re skiing in potential avalanche terrain, then you should buy and read this book.
And now for years I’ve been assigning it to all the avalanche courses I teach.
Yes, it’s that good!
My only minor quibbles are:
- The snow stability tests are kind of a stretch to learn from a book.
- Overall the book overemphasizes the ability to make safe decisions based on stability assessments (given the inherent uncertainty in almost all winter snowpacks).
- Although the second edition came out relatively soon after the first edition (with some very nice updates), the book could benefit now from a third edition to incorporate more recent research (as does the author’s shorter “Avalanche Essentials” book).
But the bottomline is that whatever your background, if you’re skiing in potential avalanche terrain, then you should buy and read this book.
Comment on this review:
Earn store credit by writing reviews. Learn more.
