T^y 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



VOL. 28 



MAY, 1922 



NO. 341 



FIGHTING AVALANCHES IN THE PYRENEES 



By Arthur Newton Pack 

 Special Correspondent of the American Forestry Association 



TT'ARLY last summer mountain torrents following a 

 '-^ cloud burst spread disaster throughout Colorado, 

 while in the early fall saw mills, shingle mills and large 

 numbers of dwellings in British Columbia were swept 

 away ; and these are but two of many similar catas- 

 trophes which have recently occurred. The role of the 



-^ THE CRADLE OF AN AVALANCHE 



Up near the timber line is where the relentlessly sliding snows 

 must be dealt with. Several stone barrages and preliminary 

 plantings are here shown. 



forests as a protection against landslides and floods may 

 well be a much argued subject, but it was undoubtedly 

 true in regard to the British Columbia flood that heavy 

 clearing of land by the logging companies, followed by 

 repeated fires, did add materially to the overwhelming 

 suddenness of the disaster. 



In the European Alps and Pyrenees, however, the 

 French and Swiss governments place implicit faith in af- 

 forestation as a protection and a remedy. There, the 

 value of the mountain regions as a playground and health 

 resort for the people is paramount, and if an avalanche 

 sweeps down some spring to wipe out the smallest cure 

 village which is then preparing for the influx of summer 

 guests, it immediately becomes a matter of grave con- 

 cern to the National Forestry Bureau. 



Nestled in a beautiful mountain valley only a few miles 

 from one of those storied, robber-infested passes leading 

 from France to Spain, lies the famous resort of Bagneres- 

 Luchon, visited every summer not only by the French, 

 but by travelers of all nations. Back in the year 1875, a 

 terrible avalanche gathered up among the snows of the 

 bordering mountains and swept down across the little 



WHERE TREE PLANTING IS HAZARDOUS 



In order to plant the seedlings, sometimes a man was lowered 

 from above on a rope ladder, or a human chain was organized. 

 At the extreme left is the little hut occupied by the workmen. 



