Disaster on the Mountain

1. Disaster on the Mountain Lauren Tarshis

2. lurked:to lie in waiting for something • What these two friends did not realize was that something deadly lurked just beneath the newly fallen snow.

3. scampered:to run or go quickly • But Stroud’s dogs, which had come along to enjoy the splendid day, had already scampered into the valley, and Stroud had taken off after them.

4. fatalities:a disaster resulting in death • In the 1990’s, there were about 15 fatalities per year.

5. comprises:includes, contains, or consists of • It comprises microscopic particles of water, air, and ice that bind together in intricate patterns.

6. intricate:complex or complicated; with great detail • It comprises microscopic particles of water, air, and ice that bind together in intricate patterns.

7. delved:to carry on an intensive search for evidence or data • To understand avalanches, Fredston and Fesler have also delved deep into Alaska’s history.

8. poring:to read or study with great attention • Fesler has spent dozens of hours in libraries poring over old newspaper articles and photographs.

9. vast:very great in number or amount • Fesler has spent dozens of hours in libraries poring over old newspaper articles and photographs and has pieced together a vast history of avalanches over the past century.

10. prime:the best or most likely • The group knew they were skiing under prime avalanche conditions.

11. prone:have a strong tendency or likelihood to do something • They also knew that colder shadowed slopes are more avalanche prone.

12. resigned:gave up • And then he resigned himself to the fact that he was going to die.

13. probe:a slender, projecting or pipelike device/instrument for exploring the depth of something • His ski poles screwed together to form a probe.

14. critically acclaimed:highly liked or praised by many people/critics • In her critically acclaimed book Snowstruck, Fredston says that Stroud’s story is typical except for one detail: He survived.