Three skiers are believed dead after an avalanche swept them away and buried them under a pile of snow nearly 10 stories deep ...

Sometimes a slide happens in the form of loose snow, called a sluff. Sluffs account for only a small percentage of deaths and property damage from avalanches, according to the Sierra Avalanche Center.

called a sluff. Sluffs account for only a small percentage of deaths and property damage from avalanches, according to the Sierra Avalanche Center. Other avalanches are made up of slabs ...