Get the app →
BriefTea logoBriefTea

Every story in sixty words

Explained in plain English

Why are avalanches so unpredictable?

Avalanches are notoriously tricky because snowpacks form fragile, hidden layers under shifting winds and temperatures. A tiny trigger can collapse these weak zones instantly. In the tragic Karakoram incident involving Nirmal Purja, even elite mountaineers faced this invisible hazard, as conditions in high altitude ranges can change without warning, catching expeditions off guard.

Stories that explain this

Mountaineer Nirmal Purja dies in Pakistan avalanche, expedition company confirms

Questions this opens up

What triggers a slab avalanche? How snow layers shift Surviving a snow burial

Related explainers

Where is Broad Peak located? Commercial high altitude guiding Conquering the death zone Who coordinates remote searches? What is the history of mountaineering guides? How jet streams form The Karakoram mountain range What makes Broad Peak dangerous?

The full catalogue

Browse every card filed under A →