The Starting Zone eBook

The Starting Zone: At the Interface of Avalanche Science and Practice by Karl Birkeland is an e-book specifically targeting avalanche professionals and advanced recreationists. The e-book is an essential resource for avalanche professionals, blending cutting-edge science with practical application for topics like snow formation in the atmosphere, snow metamorphism, spatial variability, avalanche release, avalanche mitigation, and avalanche forecasting. Building on the legacy of foundational texts like the Forest Service Avalanche Handbook, this modern, electronic format offers interactive features such as links, animations, and personalized notes. Inspired by the collaborative spirit of the International Snow Science Workshop, this book is designed as both a starting point for new avalanche professionals and a valuable update for seasoned experts. With input from leading scientists and practitioners, it’s a comprehensive, evolving guide tailored to the needs of those working to understand, forecast, and manage avalanches in a changing world.
 
Currently, The Starting Zone contains two sections. The first section, Laying the Foundation, consists of three introductory chapters. Mountain Snowpack is the second section, and it includes six chapters, including a comprehensive chapter on spatial variability. Three more sections are scheduled to be released by this fall. First up is Avalanche Release, a five-chapter section slated to be released during summer, 2025. In fall of 2025 we will release sections on both Avalanche Mitigation and Avalanche Forecasting. Your purchase includes all five sections, and you will be notified by email when sections are added.
 

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