In the 2007-2008 winter season alone, 52 people died in avalanches in the U.S. and Canada, and more than double that number worldwide. As more and more people head into to unpatrolled backcountry these numbers are on the rise. Enter Tim Samaras, a scientist and engineer who combines a passion for technology with a life-long career in disaster analysis. Hes built cameras that analyze lightning strikes, sensors that can survive a bomb blast, and probes that record the path and force of tornadoes. In each situation, hes found a way to measure whats never been measured before. In this episode, Tim will bring his expertise and tools to try and measure the forces inside an avalanche -- how it accelerates, what g-forces it creates, and how it buries its victims. He hopes the data he collects can help those on the front lines of avalanche rescue find better ways to locate and treat victims. But he cant do it alone. Tim will need the help of Mike Jenkins, Patrol and Snow Safety Manager Snowbasin Ski Resort in Huntsville, Utah and his team of ski patrollers. Its going to require a lot of manpower, persistence, and ingenuity to pull off this experiment - but Tim and his team are determined to master this disaster and collect data to help the first responders who are saving lives.
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