Avalanche 101: Answers to common avalanche questions--by Doug Chabot

Last year the GNFAC taught 62 avalanche education classes to more than 4,300 people in southwest Montana.   Grade school and graduate students, skiers and snowmobilers, search and rescue groups, ski patrols, Rotary clubs and businesses attended classes, all there for the same thing-to learn about avalanches.  During Q&A sessions many people asked questions. Here's an attempt to answer the most common ones.