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DuMont True Tales
Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek
When sixteen of the country's best skiers and snowboarders headed to a renowned out-of-bounds ski area in Washington State on February 19, 2012, they were aware of the high risk posed by avalanches. Still, they took the deadly gamble—and lost. As acclaimed "New York Times" reporter and Pulitzer Prize finalist John Branch writes in this harrowing tale of disaster and survival, "the very thing the skiers and snowboarders had sought—fresh, soft snow—instantly became the enemy." In less than a minute, Tunnel Creek turned from a playground into an icy tomb.
- GenresNonfiction
64 pages, ebook
First published December 19, 2012
10 people are currently reading
268 people want to read
About the author
John Branch
36 books64 followersJohn Branch is a Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter for the New York Times. He is the bestselling author of Boy on Ice and The Last Cowboys and has been featured multiple times in Best American Sports Writing. He lives near San Francisco, California.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 17, 2013
First, I just love the Byliner publishing label, and its goal of affordable, accessible long-form journalism. It allows for good short-term reporting soon after a newsworthy event, but with enough time for research, background work, and telling the story more fully and richly. Reading something in one two-hour sitting is also a great way to move stories into the public sphere at a lower cost than magazine publishing.
Today as I finish this story, I sit here at a ski resort in Idaho, on Feb. 16, almost exactly the one-year anniversary of the Tunnel Creek avalanche, on Feb. 19, 2012, the event recounted in the short book, which killed 3 celebrated backcountry ski/board experts in the Stevens Pass/Leavenworth area in the Cascades range of Washington state. Even with all the news coverage, John Branch introduces and endears the reader to all the characters involved: the female professional skier from Alaska, the marketing director and ski whiz from Stevens Pass, the ESPN.com freeskiing editor, the editor of Powder Magazine, and the other local and non-local experts who knew either snow or Tunnel Creek, or both, inside and out. And I got to learn terms like "surface hoar" (the fine crystal-like frozen layer of snow, which after being blanketed by soft flakes for days or weeks, can suddenly break loose and precipitate an avalanche); "hangfire" (the loose snowy material on the ragged edge of an avalanche which has just passed down a gulley, waiting potentially to break loose onto survivors); and "shallow sloughs" (mini-avalanches not big enough to sweep up victims).
Branch also shows us the workings of the small social community centered around Leavenworth, Washington, and Stevens Pass, preoccupied with skiing as a hobby, a passion, and a vocation. The grief and shock left behind in their geographical and social communities, by healthy young risk-takers who unexpectedly die, is graphically and painfully depicted. And one is left to wonder precisely at what point expertise and knowledge fade away into risk-taking, obsession, and gambling.
The central theme of this beautiful enjoyable read is that people's increasing enjoyment of backcountry adventure, coupled with better equipment (most of the Tunnel Creek group victimized on that day a year ago had access to avalanche transceivers, mostly designed to help rescuers retrieve bodies; as well as avalanche "wings" or "balloons" which inflate, helping a victim potentially to stay near the surface of a rampaging avalanche), better scientific forecasts (20 avalanche prediction centers are scattered throughout the country), and widespread expertise (of the sixteen people in this group, half had been down the precise area of Tunnel Creek dozens if not hundreds of times), all have led to, and will lead to more, deaths and injuries on mountain slopes worldwide.
Even though we must respect the often-random, deadly power of natural forces, there is still something beautiful about being exposed, and deeply, knowingly embedded in nature. In the end, we all are, whether we admit it or not; whether we know it or not.
Today as I finish this story, I sit here at a ski resort in Idaho, on Feb. 16, almost exactly the one-year anniversary of the Tunnel Creek avalanche, on Feb. 19, 2012, the event recounted in the short book, which killed 3 celebrated backcountry ski/board experts in the Stevens Pass/Leavenworth area in the Cascades range of Washington state. Even with all the news coverage, John Branch introduces and endears the reader to all the characters involved: the female professional skier from Alaska, the marketing director and ski whiz from Stevens Pass, the ESPN.com freeskiing editor, the editor of Powder Magazine, and the other local and non-local experts who knew either snow or Tunnel Creek, or both, inside and out. And I got to learn terms like "surface hoar" (the fine crystal-like frozen layer of snow, which after being blanketed by soft flakes for days or weeks, can suddenly break loose and precipitate an avalanche); "hangfire" (the loose snowy material on the ragged edge of an avalanche which has just passed down a gulley, waiting potentially to break loose onto survivors); and "shallow sloughs" (mini-avalanches not big enough to sweep up victims).
Branch also shows us the workings of the small social community centered around Leavenworth, Washington, and Stevens Pass, preoccupied with skiing as a hobby, a passion, and a vocation. The grief and shock left behind in their geographical and social communities, by healthy young risk-takers who unexpectedly die, is graphically and painfully depicted. And one is left to wonder precisely at what point expertise and knowledge fade away into risk-taking, obsession, and gambling.
The central theme of this beautiful enjoyable read is that people's increasing enjoyment of backcountry adventure, coupled with better equipment (most of the Tunnel Creek group victimized on that day a year ago had access to avalanche transceivers, mostly designed to help rescuers retrieve bodies; as well as avalanche "wings" or "balloons" which inflate, helping a victim potentially to stay near the surface of a rampaging avalanche), better scientific forecasts (20 avalanche prediction centers are scattered throughout the country), and widespread expertise (of the sixteen people in this group, half had been down the precise area of Tunnel Creek dozens if not hundreds of times), all have led to, and will lead to more, deaths and injuries on mountain slopes worldwide.
Even though we must respect the often-random, deadly power of natural forces, there is still something beautiful about being exposed, and deeply, knowingly embedded in nature. In the end, we all are, whether we admit it or not; whether we know it or not.
August 18, 2023
I had to read this for uni, and I honestly am very glad that it happened onto my reading list. Snow Fall pioneered multi-media journalism, winning a Pulitzer prize essentially for shattering everything that the journalism world thought about journalism. Not only did Branch think outside the box, he built his own box - a box that is now the norm.
It was so pivotal, inviting journalists into a creative space to totally engage the reader - as well as inform. Branch showed the world that news can be immersive, interesting, fun and moving. Today, this is how news works - we don't think twice about it, but it's fascinating to see and study the source! If you find yourself with some spare time on your hands, check this outtttttttt
It was so pivotal, inviting journalists into a creative space to totally engage the reader - as well as inform. Branch showed the world that news can be immersive, interesting, fun and moving. Today, this is how news works - we don't think twice about it, but it's fascinating to see and study the source! If you find yourself with some spare time on your hands, check this outtttttttt
January 2, 2015
This is a magnificent multimedia New York Times ARTICLE that is best experienced in that format. You can find it under Pulitzer Prize winners. I use it as an example in class of what can be done in feature writing now. It never occurred to me to think of it as a "book." I must be coming under the influence of my culture :^) But then I always believed in the best medium for the message.
October 20, 2019
Zum Inhalt:
Neuschnee, blauer Himmel, eine kilometerlange, unberührte Abfahrt in einer der schönsten und wildesten Skiregionen der USA. Doch innerhalb weniger Sekunden verwandelt sich der Hang für eine Gruppe von 16 Skifahrern in eine rasende Falle aus Abermillionen Tonnen Schnee, die kein Erbarmen kennt.
Cover:
Das Cover passt sehr gut zum Inhalt des Titels. Zu sehen ist hier ein Skifahrer, der sich durch unberührten Schnee nach unten bewegt. Anhand dieses Covers und des Titels kann man also schon ahnen, welcher Inhalt hier auf einen wartet und ich muss sagen, dass ich es sehr stimmig finde. Es spricht auf jeden Fall Freunde des Skifahrens an und wahrscheinlich auch jene, an die sich so ein Buch besonders richtet, nämlich Freestyler, die außerhalb der gemachten Pisten unterwegs sind.
Eigener Eindruck:
Nach zwei Tagen Neuschnee nimmt der Leiter des Skigebietes 15 erfahrene Skifahrer und Snowboarder auf eine Abfahrt außerhalb der Skipisten mit. Was für alle als Spaß beginnt endet in einer Tragödie, die so nicht hätte stattfinden müssen, denn die Hälfte der Gruppe hat bereits bei Antritt der Tour Bedenken und ist in der Region so erfahren, dass sie die Gefahren der Region wie ihre Westentasche kennen müssten, besonders, wenn es 80 cm Neuschnee gegeben hat…
In diesem Bericht aus der Reihe der DuMont True Tales berichtet ein Autor über die schrecklichen Stunden in den USA, als eine Lawine eine Skigruppe von 16 Personen überrascht und einige der Gruppe mit in den Tod reißt. Dass die Gruppe mehr als dumm handelt, erkennt der ambitionierte Skifahrer bereits zu Beginn des Buches. Fast fragt man sich schon, wie dumm Menschen sein können, nur um ein bisschen Nervenkitzel zu erleben und um anderen imponieren zu können. Auch wenn es gemein klingt, bin ich sogar der Meinung, dass es teilweise bei dem Unglück genau den Richtigen getroffen hat, so fahrlässig wie derjenige gehandelt hat. Dieses Unglück hätte nicht sein müssen, so einfach ist das. Der Autor beschreibt die Situation vor, während und nach dem Unglück recht stimmig, sodass man sich sehr schnell in den Bericht hineinfuchsen kann. Etwas verwirrend sind die ganzen Personen, aber 16 Personen sind nun mal eine Menge Namen, die man als Leser sortieren muss. Die Nachricht, die durch dieses Buch vermittelt wird ist auch eindeutig. Da brauchen wir gar nicht diskutieren. Der Autor mahnt vor Fahrlässigkeit, weist auf Gefahren hin und gibt dem geneigten Skifahrer sogar eine kleine Exkursion in Dingen wie Alt- und Neuschnee und die Gefahren die auch von bereits gesetzten Schnee ausgehen können. Das finde ich sehr wertvoll und richtig gut gemacht. Begleitet wird dieser Band durch viele Bilder und eine Karte, die eine Idee von dem geben, was man hier liest und wo das alles stattgefunden hat. Auch schont er den Leser nicht und beschreibt, wie man die Verunglückten schließlich fand und was scheinbar mit ihren passiert ist. Was ich an dem Buch weniger gut fand war die Gestaltung im Buch mit den Überschriften. Gelb ist so eine unglückliche Farbe. Da muss man bei gewissen Lichtverhältnissen ganz schön die Augen aufsperren, um zu erkennen, was man da überhaupt lesen kann. Das ist ein bisschen schade. Empfehlen möchte ich das Buch allen Lesern die sich gern an Realberichten erfreuen und jenen, die gern Ski fahren und das auch gern einmal außerhalb der Pisten tun. Das Buch regt definitiv zum Nachdenken und vielleicht auch zum Umdenken an.
Fazit:
4 von 5 Sterne
Daten:
ISBN: 9783770169740
Sprache: Deutsch
Ausgabe: Fester Einband
Umfang: 120 Seiten
Verlag: DuMont Reiseverlag
Erscheinungsdatum: 05.04.2017
Neuschnee, blauer Himmel, eine kilometerlange, unberührte Abfahrt in einer der schönsten und wildesten Skiregionen der USA. Doch innerhalb weniger Sekunden verwandelt sich der Hang für eine Gruppe von 16 Skifahrern in eine rasende Falle aus Abermillionen Tonnen Schnee, die kein Erbarmen kennt.
Cover:
Das Cover passt sehr gut zum Inhalt des Titels. Zu sehen ist hier ein Skifahrer, der sich durch unberührten Schnee nach unten bewegt. Anhand dieses Covers und des Titels kann man also schon ahnen, welcher Inhalt hier auf einen wartet und ich muss sagen, dass ich es sehr stimmig finde. Es spricht auf jeden Fall Freunde des Skifahrens an und wahrscheinlich auch jene, an die sich so ein Buch besonders richtet, nämlich Freestyler, die außerhalb der gemachten Pisten unterwegs sind.
Eigener Eindruck:
Nach zwei Tagen Neuschnee nimmt der Leiter des Skigebietes 15 erfahrene Skifahrer und Snowboarder auf eine Abfahrt außerhalb der Skipisten mit. Was für alle als Spaß beginnt endet in einer Tragödie, die so nicht hätte stattfinden müssen, denn die Hälfte der Gruppe hat bereits bei Antritt der Tour Bedenken und ist in der Region so erfahren, dass sie die Gefahren der Region wie ihre Westentasche kennen müssten, besonders, wenn es 80 cm Neuschnee gegeben hat…
In diesem Bericht aus der Reihe der DuMont True Tales berichtet ein Autor über die schrecklichen Stunden in den USA, als eine Lawine eine Skigruppe von 16 Personen überrascht und einige der Gruppe mit in den Tod reißt. Dass die Gruppe mehr als dumm handelt, erkennt der ambitionierte Skifahrer bereits zu Beginn des Buches. Fast fragt man sich schon, wie dumm Menschen sein können, nur um ein bisschen Nervenkitzel zu erleben und um anderen imponieren zu können. Auch wenn es gemein klingt, bin ich sogar der Meinung, dass es teilweise bei dem Unglück genau den Richtigen getroffen hat, so fahrlässig wie derjenige gehandelt hat. Dieses Unglück hätte nicht sein müssen, so einfach ist das. Der Autor beschreibt die Situation vor, während und nach dem Unglück recht stimmig, sodass man sich sehr schnell in den Bericht hineinfuchsen kann. Etwas verwirrend sind die ganzen Personen, aber 16 Personen sind nun mal eine Menge Namen, die man als Leser sortieren muss. Die Nachricht, die durch dieses Buch vermittelt wird ist auch eindeutig. Da brauchen wir gar nicht diskutieren. Der Autor mahnt vor Fahrlässigkeit, weist auf Gefahren hin und gibt dem geneigten Skifahrer sogar eine kleine Exkursion in Dingen wie Alt- und Neuschnee und die Gefahren die auch von bereits gesetzten Schnee ausgehen können. Das finde ich sehr wertvoll und richtig gut gemacht. Begleitet wird dieser Band durch viele Bilder und eine Karte, die eine Idee von dem geben, was man hier liest und wo das alles stattgefunden hat. Auch schont er den Leser nicht und beschreibt, wie man die Verunglückten schließlich fand und was scheinbar mit ihren passiert ist. Was ich an dem Buch weniger gut fand war die Gestaltung im Buch mit den Überschriften. Gelb ist so eine unglückliche Farbe. Da muss man bei gewissen Lichtverhältnissen ganz schön die Augen aufsperren, um zu erkennen, was man da überhaupt lesen kann. Das ist ein bisschen schade. Empfehlen möchte ich das Buch allen Lesern die sich gern an Realberichten erfreuen und jenen, die gern Ski fahren und das auch gern einmal außerhalb der Pisten tun. Das Buch regt definitiv zum Nachdenken und vielleicht auch zum Umdenken an.
Fazit:
4 von 5 Sterne
Daten:
ISBN: 9783770169740
Sprache: Deutsch
Ausgabe: Fester Einband
Umfang: 120 Seiten
Verlag: DuMont Reiseverlag
Erscheinungsdatum: 05.04.2017
September 6, 2024
An immersive multimedia piece illustrating the 2012 Tunnel Creek Avalanche. Portrays succinctly the risk that comes with "living", the power of nature v. the power of humanity, and the universal pain of loss. Branch illuminates the ordinary person. The research is tasteful and sits well alongside such in-depth, detailed descriptions. I am not a lover of repeated symbolism/images that take the form of metaphors and personification, but Branch uses it well, more so in the beginning. Branch is inventive and considerate throughout and 'Snow Fall' is a great example of New Journalism.
May 17, 2017
Schade, dass der Fokus der geschichte auf die Personenbeschreibung und eine detaillierte Beschreibung der Abfahrt VOR der Lawine gelegt wurde - so war es für mich, obwohl ich begeisterte Skifahrerin bin, eher öde und der spannende Teil kam viel zu kurz :(
January 31, 2020
A compelling, poignant story about lives lived to the fullest, the force of nature, the heartbreak of losing loved ones to your passion.
The author has done tremendous research and surrenders it all in a detailed, bitterly beautiful way.
The author has done tremendous research and surrenders it all in a detailed, bitterly beautiful way.
June 6, 2021
Like many others who read Snow Fall, new readers will be short changed if they do not read the interactive NYT account.
July 3, 2023
Question for author: Is this available to read other than Ebook or Kindle. I have neither and would like to read. Paperback?
October 18, 2019
Incredibly sad book and very interesting. I was interested in this book after reading "The Last Cowboys", also by John Branch
January 8, 2013
Amazing!
The interactive topographic maps, actual video footage of the day in question from folks in the story, the vivid photography, the video interviews, and most importantly, the pitch perfect writing make this a landmark in the world of eBooks. John Branch writes with care in introducing a bunch of likable pro skiers, industry types, and locals. You can't help but route for them. The author provides and excellent account of what happened on the backside of Steven's Pass Ski Area one fateful day in 2012. How smart, savvy folks, familiar to a specific mountain could have this happen is heartbreaking and eye-opening. These experts did almost everything right, and were largely as prepared as you could ask anyone going out-of-bounds. Mother Nature is no joke though. I commend the folks who took part in producing this project and those who had the strength to retell it or parts of it. Thank you.
The interactive topographic maps, actual video footage of the day in question from folks in the story, the vivid photography, the video interviews, and most importantly, the pitch perfect writing make this a landmark in the world of eBooks. John Branch writes with care in introducing a bunch of likable pro skiers, industry types, and locals. You can't help but route for them. The author provides and excellent account of what happened on the backside of Steven's Pass Ski Area one fateful day in 2012. How smart, savvy folks, familiar to a specific mountain could have this happen is heartbreaking and eye-opening. These experts did almost everything right, and were largely as prepared as you could ask anyone going out-of-bounds. Mother Nature is no joke though. I commend the folks who took part in producing this project and those who had the strength to retell it or parts of it. Thank you.
January 3, 2013
Branch's tragic recounting of an ill-fated backcountry outing at a Washington state ski resort is simultaneously tragic, informative, and innovative. Well written and engaging, even if (like me) you have no real interest in skiing. A great example of "new journalism" that takes advantage of multimodal content and design--in fact, I recommend reading/viewing this on the iPad or in a current browser on your computer(as opposed to the text-centric ebook format for your Kindle or other e-reader)to be able to fully experience the integrated video content, maps, images, etc.
April 15, 2013
I loved the reporting that went into the recounting of this tragic set of events which took place in the mountains very near to my home. My first interaction with this content was on the web, where the author and his creative team masterfully wove a story using multiple digital elements. That version was incredibly and thoroughly engrossing. The Kindle Single version was also quite gripping, but having experienced the web version, I wanted more. This has given me much to think on as we work through the future visions of Kindle as a platform.
January 15, 2013
I thought that it was going to be a little more like Into Thin Air. I got this though Byliner. It wasn't until I saw some of the other reviews that I realized that there was a website. The two are not exactly the same. It's worth looking at the multimedia on the website.
December 23, 2012
An excellent piece of long form journalism which should have the potential to gather awards for John Branch and his team at New York Times. Creative and poignant, definitely worth reading - available in full here or as a separate ebook - http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2012/...
January 11, 2013
This book was very interesting. A very quick read. John Branch's description of the avalanche was very good. I could imagine everything he wrote in my mind. I could feel the anguish of the survivors and the families.
July 27, 2013
Interesting examination of the recent fatal avalanche in Washington, in which three expert skiers were killed. John Branch is a very good writer - combines a sportsman's knowledge with a reporter's flair. This is a NY Times Byliner/Kindle single.
December 28, 2012
Beautiful interface on the times website. Brilliant, creative long-form journalism. So worth the 2 hours it took to read. Haunting.
May 23, 2014
From a NYT reporter. Brings out the tragedy from a human perspective and the families affected by this calamity.
July 27, 2016
The Pulitzer Prize winning multimedia journalism story that launched discussions about the future of ordinary journalism. Gorgeous to look at and immersive to read.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews