The Avalanche Handbook is perhaps the definitive book on snow science and avalanche mechanics. The previous edition of the guide was published back in 1993. The authors, David McClung and Peter Schaerer have completely revised the book. This third edition has new information on snow slab stability, terrain factors and avalanche triggering. There is a completely new chapter covering avalanche forecasting and decision making.
The handbook is quite technical and is probably not the ideal first book for anyone wanting to travel safely off-piste and beyond but would suit anyone wanting to go further including ski instructors, guides, group leaders, ski patrols, search and rescue members and anyone wanting a deeper understanding of how to understand, if not tame, the avalanche beast.
The authors’ credentials are impeccable. David McClugng is a professor in the Department of Geography and head of the avalanche research group at the University of British Columbia and Peter Schaerer spent most of his career as the Canadian avalanche research center.
The Avalanche Handbook, third edition is due to be published on the 31st October 2006. ISBN: 0898868092