Monday, July 28, 2008

Avalanche Tents

Avalanche Tents




When outings to search the worldwide started years ago many people went to the mountains being that the terrain was snowy and icy they needed some thing for shelter from the elements. Avalanche tents were what they took with them, these tents were believed to be a four seasons because they could be heated by lamps and other devices and could reduce the wind chill to a minimum.


Explores found the idea of an avalanche tent was a form of security should an avalanche come about. In theory the tent would ride on the surface of the rolling snow keeping the individual from being immersed. Though the individual would have to hold on for dear life to something inside the tent.


At this day and age the use of avalanche tents have become obsolete. One reason is due to the true safety of the tents not being as safe as they once had thought facts show that high winds often give under or even carry away the tent. Also the weight of the tents hinder the people who strive to reach new climbing records.


So the explores of today are using alternative shelters such as ones made from lose rocks or finding a little cave. Some research says that this type of shelter is better due to the ability to cut the wind down. But the fault to that is the self made shelters will not hold in heat like the avalanche tents do.


Some individuals understand the important of carrying an avalanche tent. In the event that you were imprisoned some where on a mountain that has no transferable lose rocks and no cave can be found you have a means to get out of the elements. Another added benefit to having a avalanche tent is that it gives rescuer’s a better chance to see you.


Some people also use what is known as snow caving now too, but there is a risk doing this. Should there be a large amount of snowfall the individual is basically imprisoned. Or in the event of an avalanche the same thing can happen. With the usage of the avalanche tents individuals were usually aware of what was going on quicker because of the material the tents are made of.



This has also been published as: Avalanche tent on Hubpages, Avalanches on Zimbio, Avalanche tent on Wikispaces

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