History

The word avalanche is derived from the French “avaler” (to swallow). An avalanche involves the rapid flow of a mass of snow down a slope, triggered by either natural processes or human activity. Avalanches have long been feared in Alpine countries. On 1 March 1910, on the Great Northern Railway line through the Cascade Range at Stevens Pass, WA, northeast of Seattle, 96 passengers and crew were killed by a massive avalanche that struck a stationary train. Three days later in Rogers Pass, British Columbia, an avalanche running from the opposite slope killed 57 workmen, who were clearing a previous slide from the rail lines. During World War I some 50,000 troops were killed by avalanches in the Italian Alps that were triggered by artillery fire.