It hits, hard and fast.

 

Slams you from behind like a big, heavy, refrigerator, or linebacker.  Or something. 

​

You are suddenly surrounded by a swirling, tumbling, cloud of white madness. Like getting tumbled by a big wave body surfing.  But a lot worse.  You realize instantaneously this is very, very serious.

 

Years of backcountry ski training and avalanche safety training kick in. You let go of your ski poles and start swimming with your arms. The massive white churning surrounds you. You swim.

​

Then you stop, with a thud. No motion. No sound. Nothing. You are lying there, on your side, under five feet of snow.

You know, without thinking it.

 

You realize, without your mind even saying the words, that this may well be the moment of your death.