each shoot down through the same gorge or over 

 the same slope as its predecessor. Only so much 

 snow can cling to a slope ; therefore the number 

 of slides during each winter is determined by 

 the quantity of snow and the character of the 

 slope. As soon as snow is piled beyond the 

 holding-limit, away starts the slide. A slide 

 may have slipped from this spot only a few 

 days before, and here another may slip away 

 a few days later; or a year may elapse before 

 another runs. Thus local topography and local 

 weather conditions determine local slide habits, 

 — when a slide will start and the course over 

 which it will run. 



The prospector was snoring before the first 

 far-off thunder was heard. Things were moving. 

 Seashore storm sounds could be heard in the 

 background of heavy rumbling. This thunder 

 swelled louder until there was a heavy rumble 

 everywhere. Then came an earthquake jar, 

 closely followed by a violently explosive crash. 

 A slide was upon us! A few seconds later tons 

 of snow fell about us, crushing the trees and 

 wrecking the cabin. Though we escaped with- 



82 



