After a number of interesting and sometimes innovative books have been published on the subject of avalanches in recent winters - such as the book by Nairz/Mair on genetic hazard patterns - a new avalanche book has now also been published by the renowned mountain publisher Rother: "Lawinen: Verstehen - Vermeiden - Praxistipps". The author is long-time ski tourer, mountain rescuer and physicist Eike Roth. Some may wonder whether this was really necessary in times of a newly published PowderGuide, a still up-to-date 3x3 by Werner Munter and other books? The short answer to this: Yes, it was, and for various reasons.
Organization
The book is precisely structured - which gave other reviewers cause for criticism - and therefore has the function of a compendium/manual in the field of "avalanches" for me. Neither snow science (chapter 2) nor the theory of the formation of avalanches are neglected (chapter 3). The detailed chapter on fracture mechanics and triggering mechanisms (Chapter 5) is sensibly divided into three sub-chapters: initial fracture - fracture propagation and the actual triggering of the avalanche. As far as I know, Eike Roth's avalanche book is the first book written for a broad audience to deal in detail with the so-called anti-crack theory of avalanche formation.
In further chapters, the common, modern strategies for avoiding avalanche accidents - reduction method, 3x3, stop or go, snowcard, graphic reduction method - are compared comprehensively and systematically. The penultimate chapter then deals with avalanche accidents. Starting with the description of the correct equipment through to the strategy of excavation and the organization of the rescue chain, the latest findings have been incorporated into the book and are presented concisely, such as Manuel Genswein's V-shaped snow conveyor belt.
Rating
For me, Eike Roth's book is the clearest and most stringently argued book in the field of avalanche theory. The clear language, the sometimes extremely detailed argumentation, which is nevertheless easy to understand, and the scope of the book are clearly positive. Finally, all relevant strategic decision-making procedures are compared with each other using meaningful parameters and metatheoretical problems, such as measuring and estimating slope inclinations, the learning trap or the so-called "human factors" are also presented in detail (chapter 8.8). I also like the author's own thoughts on the various topics, which are easy to understand, especially the argumentative criticism of strategic decision-making procedures (Chapter 8.9.2 & 3). Despite all the well-deserved praise, there's also criticism: this is made here in two areas - firstly in terms of content and secondly in terms of structure and form. As indicated above, the content is very comprehensive, but some of the conclusions drawn from old and new theory (Scherriss vs. Antiriss and his synopsis of these two) are paradoxical and incomprehensible to me. It is not entirely clear to me why the author spends many pages explaining the shear crack theory and making it plausible, only to more or less dismiss it in the chapter on fracture mechanics and then continue to adhere to it. In terms of argumentation, this succeeds impressively and elegantly by retaining the concept of the "superweak zone", which, however, no longer exists within the new theory of anti-cracking. The author complicates the theory of fracture mechanics with his quite plausible explanations by carrying out a synopsis of old and new. In my opinion, the new theory has the same explanatory power as his theoretical construct, with a simpler structure - which brings us back to Occam's Razor in terms of scientific theory. The formal criticism relates mainly to the thoroughness of the editing: in places, formulations are superfluous or arguments redundant. Sometimes research seems too imprecise: for example, the AvaLung doesn't weigh a kilogram...
Conclusion
This book definitely adds value compared to existing avalanche books. Eike Roth's book is a reference-worthy handbook in clear, unambiguous language and argumentation on all aspects of avalanche science, which can also come up with interesting aspects of its own (as another example: the plausible table on p. 204 on the relevance of the statistical/strategic method for different avalanche problems). The overview of all existing decision-making strategies is helpful and a novelty in the literature. Predicate: Suitable for Christmas presents, for all those who want to know exactly!
Information about the book
Author: Eike Roth
Avalanches: Understanding / Avoiding / Practical tips
Bergverlag Rother, 1. Edition 2013
304 pages 155 color illustrations and graphics
Format 16,3 x 23 cm
Price: 29,90 Euro [D] / 30,80 Euro [A] / 41,90 SFr
