Here’s how it feels to get caught in an avalanche

Backcountry skier Hannah Hughes realized she couldn’t fight the wall of snow when it hit her. She survived but the experience has her rethinking her relationship with risk, and she isn’t alone. The 2025-2026 ski season has been a brutal year for avalanche-related deaths in parts of the world. Some scientists say climate change is now one more factor to consider when heading out into the backcountry. What On Earth’s Molly Segal explores how climate is colliding with the increasingly popular sport of backcountry skiing.