 Poster: A snowHead
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I got took out by my first roof avalanche today. Just as I was leaning my skis up against a wall for a mid morning pit stop, I felt a sturdy thwack to my head. Goggles came down all twisted over my face (they were perched on the top of my helmet), I staggered about for a second or two a bit dazed with my ears ringing wondering what the hell was going on. Then I felt the cold of the ice and realised exactly what it was. Think it had fallen from 6-7 storeys. The lady who was clearing the terrace and saw it was quite concerned!
I’m not going to extoll the virtues of helmet wearing by claiming it saved my life, but after 15 years of wearing one, this is the first time I feel like I’ve absolutely benefitted from it (first time I’ve had a whack to my head). It certainly meant I could ski for the rest of the day and probably avoided a visit to the hospital.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@hammerite, ouch. Glad you're OK.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@hammerite, not the use I imagine you thought it would be put to, but good it worked!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Ouch!!!!! Glad you’re ok.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Wow. Unlucky to be hit but very lucky to be protected.
New helmet needed?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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2 days ago, I was on a plane that flew through a lot of turbulence. When I got up to go to the toilet in the back, I was in danger of hitting my head on the walls. I was very much tempted to go back to my seat and put my helmet on my head for the toilet trip.
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Kid and his mum got killed at Kirkwood by one a few years back Very sad.
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Ouch! What was she doing clearing her terrace without checking below? Muppet!!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| under a new name wrote: |
| Ouch! What was she doing clearing her terrace without checking below? Muppet!! |
As he was stopping for coffee and I guess she was clearing the terrace outside the cafe, not roof 
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I got pummeled outside my house in the highlands. I'd put off putting the snowboards on the roof all last summer, in Jan i shut the back door and got literally buried - two roofs worth on top of me, was lucky not to get hurt ! As soon as it cleared i was on the roof putting the snow boards back on 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@orange, just for my education what do the snow boards do, are they put on the edge of the roof to hold back the snow? I presume if you got a really deep buildup of snow it could slide over the top of the boards, but in that event you'd probably be more concerned about whether the weight of snow might cause cause the roof to collapse!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Around here when there is heavy snow on the roofs, there are warning signs at eye level “Achtung Dachlawine” and long sticks propped at an angle against the wall below to discourage people from walking too close. In extreme circumstances, the at-risk area will be roped off.
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@Scarlet, same at our apartment block to stop parking
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You know it makes sense.
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@holidayloverxx, you have people parking on your roof?? 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| under a new name wrote: |
| Ouch! What was she doing clearing her terrace without checking below? Muppet!! |
My reading of what was written was that she was clearing her terrace and thus saw it , rather than she was clearing her terrace and thus caused it. How does clearing a terrace cause snow to fall from a roof/, I maybe wrong but can't visualise it.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| under a new name wrote: |
| @holidayloverxx, you have people parking on your roof?? |
You know if I mean under the eaves
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@T Bar, if there's snow on the terrace?
@holidayloverxx, don't ruin a good story with the truth!!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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My first ever European ski trip down to the Pyrennes. The mayor/authorities had closed the road to la Mongie.
We had had 1 or 2 nights in hotels down in Bagnere de Bigorre, roof avalanches had "destroyed" many cars parked on the narrow streets. It was exceptional weather conditions with 3 to 3.5m of snow falling over a 2/3 day period.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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The house I was brought up in (1950's semi) had snow boards on the south facing roof.
Protected the back door and yard, where kids might be playing.
I think it was a standard design, and was needed as we regularly got decent snowfalls in those days, even in the Midlands.
Not seen them on any houses built in the last 50 years. Sadly, hardly ever needed now.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Alastair Pink wrote: |
| @orange, just for my education what do the snow boards do, are they put on the edge of the roof to hold back the snow? I presume if you got a really deep buildup of snow it could slide over the top of the boards, but in that event you'd probably be more concerned about whether the weight of snow might cause cause the roof to collapse! |
They aren't massive and also have slats in them but i presume they stop the sliding motion. Don;t think we'd every get enough snow to collapse a roof in Strathspey !
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@hammerite, sounds very similar to my conker-lanche experience, when I was seriously glad I had my cycling helmet on cycling under a horse chestnut tree 
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Thanks all. Now terrible after effects today so all good.
@Orange200, I’ve given the helmet a good check. It’s not even got a mark on the shell. I’ve checked under the lining and all seems ok.
@under a new name, As others have said, she was clearing the terrace next to the pavement where I was. I think she was thankful it wasn’t her.
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FAQ
wasn't so lucky and his own car was badly damaged (windscreen smashed, A pillars, bonnet and roof bent).