Lake District Avalanche account

This thought-provoking account of being caught in an avalanche in the Lake District - last weekend (!) - is worth a read...

http://www.planetfear.com/news/Avalanched_in_the_Lakes_2412.html

:shock:

Never go off piste without your avy kit... even in the Lake District!

Another news story today on avalanches. Austrian medical scientists want to bury pigs in snow to see how the body reacts, and research how, and how slowly they die. Tests have been started, but now suspended after animal rights criticism, but the scientists still think that if the tests continue they will improve medical treatment of victims.

More detail (in English) here http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,672102,00.html

Of piste is hazardous enough without skiing pigs getting in on the action, I for one think they should be confined to their stys where they belong.

On a more serious point I hope they are wearing helmets )