Which term describes the release of the entire snow cover?

• A. Debris
• B. Flank
• C. Release of entire snow cover
• D. Crown

Answer: (C)

When snow avalanche terminology talks about releases, the focus is on how much of the snowpack fails. A release that involves the entire snow cover means the whole snowpack detaches across the slope, producing a full-depth avalanche. This contrasts with other terms: debris describes the material left after the avalanche, the runout debris; flank refers to the sides of the avalanche path; and crown is the upper fracture line where the snowpack first breaks. So the phrase “release of entire snow cover” precisely describes the full-depth failure of the snowpack, making it the best fit.