Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-16
Avalanches and SnOwslfdes.
SOME OF THE WINTER PERII.S TO BIZ ENCOUNTERED
"OUT WEST"


SOME OF THE WINTER PERII.S TO BIZ ENCOUNTERED
"OUT WEST"
From the New York Star
Says Mr. George W. Seaver, a resident OF Colo
RADIO, now In this city, relative to Western winter
experiences in the mountains OF Colorado:
"Just before left home we had the first of our
winter pests refer to the snowslides In Colo.
RADIO there are two distinct kinds OF snowsides-
the snowslide and the avalanche. The snowslide
occurs when a dry fall OF snow has covered the
steep side or the mountains and passes The snow
under these conditions, literally slides until r.
strikes lower and more level space. Such a dis
turbance Is inconvenient, as it blocks wagons and
railroads, but Is seldom attended with disastrous
consequences, as the snow Is light and soft that
IT divides on encountering any obstacle, such as n
house, without carrying IL away It's motion, also,
is SO gradual that man In It's track can easily
nnd means OF getting out OF the way, and even il
he were caught, could escape without injury
1.-THE avalanche. on the other hand" MIR. Saayer
went On TO say, 'iS far more dangerous For the
formation or an avalance snow more or less moist
Is necessary, and also hard-froZen base upon
which the snow rests A heavy fall succeeding a
cold snap Is nearly certain 10 accession avalanches
and these are most disastrous. Instead or sim
ping slowly and easily along IN soft, porous
mass, the snow balls and PUSHES down the moun
tain side with irresistible force and at terrific
speed. Trees and rocks are torn and Incorporated
way has TO yield. Unlike the snow-sli6e the ava
lanche, when once 1t has gathered Roadway is not
stopped by any level space OF ordinary extent but
PUSHES across plain several hundred yards in
width and plungeS down the mountain Side he
yOnd. When an avalanche occurs In the NEIGH
borhood OF pass snow usually fills 1t up TO a
depth OF from 40 TO so Ieet and is not cleared out
until spring. unless very large force OF men IA
put 10 work TO make a pathway. II is no uncom.
mon thing for mining camp to be cut on from
communication with the outside world for
weeks at time by one OF these ayalanches
and the suffering from want OF food and fuei Is
often extreme. The only way to establish com.
munication is by line OF couriers on SHOWS hoes
and these men are in constant danger OF their
lives as In passing along the track OF an avalanche
tS IN
and dozens OF lives are thus lost every year. The
short, broad Canadian snow shoe Is never used nv
the couriers, as this pattern is only good on level
ground. All mail carriers and courlers are
equipped with the Norwegian snOw-shoe a strin of
MOO MOOD about eight feet long and two inches WIDE
This gives frm support on the lghJest snow anC
Is splendid for coasting. l have seen such snC,S
shoe men come down slope at the rate OF ne arly
a mile minute, and run fully hundred yai,ds m
the level before losing their impetus am con-
WINGED that the best and most daring snOw.shoe
men In the world are found among the minIny
CAMPS ep Oh tne ROCKY Mountains, but In spite Of
their skill scores OF them are lost every wear
frozen 70 death or overwhelmed by avalanches-
ana II IS wonder to me how so many men are
willing 10 volunteer for the most hazardous DUTY
OF crossing the avalanche-covered passes in the
winter" ~