Avalanche News - Apr 28, 2024
Sign up to receive this in your email
(No more than once daily, often less depending on the amount of new news.)
Avalanche sets off glacial lake outburst in Nepal
Yet another Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) event has occurred in the Himalayas. This time, the Birendra glacial lake in Nepal collapsed and caused a brief deluge downstream. As temperatures rise, glaciologists have been raising alarms over increasing GLOF events. Just last October, the South Lhonak glacial lake in Sikkim suffered an outburst due to a cloudburst, leading to major loss of lives.
The Birendra Tal, which is located at 4500 m above sea level in the Manaslu region, burst its banks Sunday morning due to an avalanche dumping ice into it, spilling water over. It is currently reported to be “returning to normal”.
There have been no reports of casualties despite downstream regions being on high alert. Satellite images have indicated that bridges and yaks were swept up in the water. The images also show a new chunk of ice and snow at the southwestern part of the lake, indicating an avalanche and deposition of ice into the lake.
More ... (The Print, India)
Man Says Luck Saved Him In Avalanche
Jan. 12, 2024, is a date that will likely remain forever carved in Travis Halverson’s memory as the day he was swept up in an avalanche while skiing just outside Wyoming. With the help of his girlfriend, his gear and some good fortune, Halverson survived despite breaking 10 bones in his spine, ribs, sternum and jaw, as well as a likely concussion.
Halverson is no novice when it comes to the backcountry. He’s been skiing in the backcountry for more than a decade and has some notable achievements under his belt such as summiting and skiing Mount Denali in Alaska. But sometimes, experience can be more of a curse than a blessing. Like any activity in life that carries risk, one can become gradually desensitized to its potential dangers when exposed to the risk many times. Halverson said it wasn’t that he became overly confident about avalanches, but gradually became more comfortable with the risks they present. “The first time you do it you’re hyper aware of it and it probably affects you more,” he explained about triggering a slide. “Each time you do that same thing, you just become more comfortable with that risk and just able to push it in the back of your mind a little more.”
More ... (Cowboy State Daily)
Avalanche mitigation with WWII Howitzers
Since the early 1950s, WWII artillery has been a critical asset for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) in the seasonal fight against avalanches in the Colorado Rockies; however, now plans are being drawn up to phase out these large guns. While the artillery in operation has changed over the years, currently, CDOT reports operating seven M101A1 Howitzers in their avalanche mitigation efforts, "They're surplus World War II weapons that we lease from the Army," commented Brian Gorsage, the state avalanche coordinator for CDOT.
More ... (KOAA News)
Avalanche Disrupts Roads in Kinnaur District
Yesterday (Apr 18), amidst the tranquility of Kashang in Kinnaur district, an avalanche wreaked havoc, causing a disruption in road communication during the afternoon hours. According to reports from Shimla, the Kashang road now remains impassable, obstructed by a formidable mass of snow and debris unleashed by the avalanche. The aftermath of this natural calamity has resulted in extensive damage to properties, notably apple orchards, which are integral to the local economy. In response to the crisis, contractors involved in the Kashang hydroelectric project have sprung into action, deploying machinery to clear the road of obstructive debris and ice. However, the ongoing clearance operations have unavoidably impeded the project’s progress, leading to delays and logistical hurdles.
More ... (Himachal Headlines)
