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by JONATHAN THOMPSON
The snowy slopes of the West's mountains have not been
friendly to backcountry travelers this winter. Fourteen people
perished in avalanche-related accidents between November 2007 and
Jan. 9 of this year; during the same months last winter, there were
half as many fatalities. If past trends are any indication, this
could continue to be an especially deadly season, since January,
February and March are typically the worst months for avalanche
accidents. And snowmobilers, statistically speaking, are most in
danger: Beginning in the 1990s, snowmobilers died in avalanches at
a higher rate than any other group, a trend that continues today.
This season, five "sledders" have already died in
avalanches
