The principal collaborators in this work are Mr. M. Atwater, snow ranger at Alta, Utah, and Mr. F. Koziol, of the Wasatch National Forest Service, both of whom, in 1948, produced The Alta Avalanche Studies; this was reviewed in this Journal, Vol. 1, No. 9, 1951. They have been helped in their studies by Mons. A. Roch, the mountaineer and a great authority on snow.

A notable advance in the subject has been made since the earlier work, which was “an attempt to gather all the relevant information.” Since then the authors have culled experience and data from several other snowy and mountainous districts, which has considerably broadened their outlook.

It is claimed that the handbook serves a triple purpose—first as a textbook “which again summarizes our knowledge to date on avalanches”; secondly as a field handbook for the “guidance of administrators who have duties where avalanche hazard is a problem”; thirdly as a second “progress report.” They go on to admit that the study of avalanches is far from being complete. With this the reviewer agrees. But he also believes that years of practical experience in the mountains is the best training for going safely on mountain expeditions. To those who have not had long experience a study such as this, carefully and scientifically compiled, is absolutely necessary in explaining basic causes. With this knowledge the inexperienced will know what dangers to look for. Thus can theory and practice help each other.

While the reviewer cannot find much, if any, new light on the avalanche problem, this book does, very admirably indeed, combine the most recent European research with American snow conditions, and its authors and publishers are to be congratulated on having produced something very worth while.