Snow cornice Snow cornice A snow cornice or simply cornice (from the Italian cornice meaning "ledge") is an overhanging edge of snow on a ridge or the crest of a mountain and along the sides of gullies. They form by wind blowing snow over sharp terrain breaks (e.g. the crest of the mountain) where it attaches and builds out horizontally. This build-up is most common on the steeper and leeward sides of mountains. Cornices are extremely dangerous and travelling above or below them should be avoided. When a cornice "collapses", it breaks in from the cornice to the top of the peak;
Snow Mountain quail Snow Mountain quail The Snow Mountain quail ("Anurophasis monorthonyx"), is a large, approximately 28 cm (11 in) long, dark brown quail of Alpine grasslands. It is the only member of the genus "Anurophasis". It has a brown plumage, a horn-coloured bill, yellow legs and a brown iris. The underparts of the female are whitish and more heavily black barred than in the male. An Indonesian endemic, the Snow Mountain quail is confined to New Guinea's highest elevations, the Snow Mountains of Irian Jaya. This little known bird is protected only by the remoteness of its habitat, an inaccessible area at