At what point in time was the initial falling mass itself fractured?
It gives a licking and takes a licking yet keeps on giving and taking a licking?
Why does the mass of sliding snow near the top of an avalanche stay completely uncompacted?
Why does the mass of sliding snow near the bottom of an avalanche get highly compacted?
If you were caught in an avalanche, would you prefer to be near the top of the sliding mass or near the bottom?
Why are there ranges of mass & speed of highly compacted snow which can knock down a stout building, while an equivalent mass & speed of uncompacted snow can not?