History Main / HairTriggerAvalanche

* PlayedForDrama ''and'' [[PlayedForLaughs Laughs]] in ''[[Recap/TintinTintinInTibet Tintin in Tibet]]''.
* One issue of ''ComicBook/{{Thorgal}}'' starts with someone blowing a horn in the mountains, with the protagonist commenting on how irresponsible it is. [[spoiler:The whole issue is a TimeyWimeyBall and culminates with a GirlOfTheWeek taking TheSlowPath to cause the avalanche on purpose, killing the time traveler and saving Thorgal's life but putting him out of the loop in the process.]]
* In the first ''Series/{{Kaamelott}}'' comic book, ''L'Armée du Nécromant'', the knights are caught in an avalanche while fighting a horde of zombies in the mountains. At first, they think it was from [[IneptMage Merlin]] casting a spell, but in fact, it was because Karadoc and Perceval were yelling while charging into the fray.

* ''ComicStrip/TheFarSide'': A cartoon has a skier come across a guy with a big drum and one with a trumpet in a narrow crevice.

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsonsMovie'', when the family moves to Alaska, Bart amuses himself by clapping while Homer is outside to trigger avalanches. Homer thinks he's clapping for Alaska and asks Lisa to join in. He is then swept away by the ensuing avalanche.

* ''WesternAnimation/BrotherBear2'': Koda triggers one while shouting at Nita to leave him alone.

* ''Film/SevenBridesForSevenBrothers'': After kidnapping the women, the men start an avalanche so they can't be pursued by the townspeople by firing pistols into the air repeatedly while the women all scream at the top of their lungs.
* ''Film/XXx'': Xander intentionally causes an avalanche with a grenade and then snowboards his way down the mountain in front of it.
* ''Film/OnHerMajestysSecretService'': Bond and Traci are skiing away from SPECTRE mooks when Blofeld deliberately detonates a flare above some hanging rocks and ice to trigger an avalanche.

* Tom Friend in ''Film/TheAbominableSnowman'' causes an avalanche by firing his handgun into the air repeatedly, though he's too busy having a VillainousBreakdown to notice at first.

* ''Film/TheDevilsMessenger'': In "The Photograph", the scream of the woman Donald rapes and murders is shown triggering an avalanche.[[note]]Due to the StockFootage not matching the terrain of where the rape occurs, it is not clear if this supposed to be an actual avalanche or a symbolic one.[[/note]]

* The ''Series/ILoveLucy'' episode "Lucy in the Swiss Alps" has the main cast in a cabin with a big cliff of snow over it, trying not to make any noise that would trigger an avalanche. When Lucy slams the door, it causes an avalanche.

* [[JustForFun/TropesExaminedByTheMythBusters Tested (and busted)]] by the Series/MythBusters in several ways. Yodeling, cracking a whip, and firing up to ''two'' automatic rifles all failed to set off an avalanche. It took quite a few [[StuffBlowingUp charges of TNT]] to cause one.

* ''Series/TiereBisUntersDach'': While camping in the mountains, a hunter's gunshot triggers an avalanche.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS25E2TheHappinessPatrol The Happiness Patrol]]", Fifi is crushed to death when Earl uses his harmonica to trigger an avalanche of the unstable crystallized sugar deposits in the pipes.
* In ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'', while watching ''Film/{{Avalanche}}'', Jonah and the bots get bored [[TwentyMinutesWithJerks waiting for the titular event to occur]] and attempt to invoke it by shouting and banging cymbals together.

* Nancy gets buried alive by one in ''[[VideoGame/NancyDrew White Wolf of Icicle Creek]]''.

* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' episode "A Smith in the Hand" does it twice when Stan screams from masturbating.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''
** Episode "Mountain of Madness": The first avalanche is caused by Homer and Mr. Burns clinking two glasses together in a toast. The second is caused by their boisterous "Huzzah!" after digging themselves out of the first. Then,
--->'''Homer:''' I think when we yelled we caused another avalanche. ''[another avalanche]''\\
'''Burns:''' ''[whispering]'' We should... be... careful... not... to speak... unless... it's... absolutely... pos-i-tively... necessary. ''[AVALANCHE]''\\
'''Homer:''' Shh. ''[AVALANCHE]'' You're... causing... more... avalanches. ''[AVALANCHE]'' I ''[AVALANCHE]'' think ''[AVALANCHE]'' they've ''[AVALANCHE]'' stopped. ''[{{beat}}]'' ... ''[AVALANCHE]''\\
'''Burns:''' Let's go. ''[AVALANCHE]''
** In the episode "Mr. Plow", Barney's burp caused an avalanche.

* ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'':
** In the short "The Iceman Ducketh", WesternAnimation/BugsBunny warns WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck not to talk too loud or it might start an avalanche. Daffy whispers whether it's okay to speak now, but Bugs can't understand him, so Daffy shouts the question and is buried by falling snow.
** In the Bugs vs. Yosemite Sam cartoon "Piker's Peak", Sam deliberately triggers an avalanche in an effort to bury Bugs. Of course, Sam gets swamped instead.
* This happens in one of the ''Heyyy, It's the King!'' shorts on ''WesternAnimation/CBBears''. The avalanche is caused by the sound of the hippo character eating potato chips.
* Occurs in the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "Dragonshy". While climbing a (snowless) mountain, Twilight Sparkle warns the others that they're entering an avalanche zone and that the smallest noise could create a rock slide. Fluttershy, already on pins-and-needles, instantly panics and shouts "Avala--!" when she feels something touch her backside. She's immediately hushed as they wait for the echoes to stop. Then they sigh with relief. ''This'' triggers the rock slide.
* In a ''WesternAnimation/JimmyNeutron'' TV movie, Jimmy and his buddies are spies, and one scene has them climbing Mount Everest. The following dialogue ensues:
-->'''Carl:''' ''[singing]'' We're spies! And it's really cold! I wish I had some hot chocolate!\\
'''Jimmy:''' Quiet, Carl! You could start an avalanche!\\
'''Sheen:''' ''[at the top of his lungs]'' AVALANCHE?!\\
''[rumbling is heard]''\\
'''Jimmy:''' ...Like that.

* On ''WesternAnimation/JimmyTwoShoes'', Jimmy ''intentionally'' does this in order for him and Beezy to go snowboarding.
* In the first episode of ''WesternAnimation/InspectorGadget'', Gadget triggers a small avalanche while trying to sing along with the Mad Yodeler's sheet music.
* Dennis's dad on ''ComicStrip/DennisTheMenaceUS'' calls out for him and gets a local's warning too late.
* Happens in ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime''. In "Death in Bloom", Finn warns Jake that they have to be quiet because the [[ImAHumanitarian skeletons]] nearby will notice them if they make any noise. Immediately after he warns him about this, Jake [[{{Gasshole}} lets out a large fart]] which causes a rock avalanche ''and'' gets him and Finn spotted. Jake's reasoning? "[[ForTheFunnyz I thought it would be]] [[ToiletHumor funny]]..."
* In the ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'' episode "Cabin Fever", Ed Bighead screams his frustration at having to share a mountain cabin with Rocko and Heffer for the weekend, causing the snowy slope nearby to bury the cabin and trap the group inside.
-->'''Ed:''' How can I rest when I have to spend my weekend with those two '''PINHEADS!?'''
* Brainy Smurf causes one at the beginning of ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'' episode "The Smurfs That Time Forgot".
* ''WesternAnimation/AllHailKingJulien'' has Julien try to start a rockslide with a boom box, but when cranking the audio causes it to break, a blood-curdling scream does the trick instead.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' episode "The Blizzard," when the babies [[ImagineSpot imagine]] themselves traveling to the North Pole, an avalanche is triggered at one point by a hiccup from Phil.
* In ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain'', Brain makes a machine that predicts the future and sees that he will grow old without taking over the world. Disheartened, he gives up on his plans, and retires to the alps to be a ski instructor. Pinky, missing his friend, uses the machine to check on Brain, and sees Brain dying when he unwittingly triggers an avalanche [[UndignifiedDeath by singing the Ricola jingle.]] Pinky rushes to warn Brain and Brain, thinking the machine to be infallible, believes that there is no saving him and accidentally triggers the avalanche by shouting at Pinky to get away from him and save himself. The two mice survive, proving to Brain that the machine was inaccurate, and the pair return home to scheme anew.

* ''Careful'' (1992): One of Creator/GuyMaddin's first feature films is about a small mountain town where every citizen must move and speak very quietly to avoid this. So naturally, Maddin produced it as a silent film.

* ''Film/OnHerMajestysSecretService'': Bond and Traci are skiing away from SPECTRE mooks when Blofeld detonates a flare above some hanging rocks and ice, triggering an avalanche.

* ''ComicBook/HuntersHellcats'': In ''Our Fighting Forces'' #117, the Hellcats trigger an avalanche by firing their machine guns into a ledge of snow above a group of Nazi {{Super Soldier}}s.

* Mentioned in ''Literature/{{Frankenstein}}''. As Victor Frankenstein climbs a mountain, he remarks that even a loud voice would be able to trigger an avalanche.
* Happens in Jean Kirby's novel ''Olympic Duty'' in the ''Nurses Three'' series. While a small, strategic avalanche is being planned to alleviate a more dangerous one, a photographer who's prevented from going closer shouts in anger, thus triggering a large, fatal (although not to him) avalanche.

!!Examples

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

-->'''Piglet:''' Is that a rumbly in your tumbly, Pooh?
-->'''Pooh:''' [[OhCrap I don't think so, Piglet]].

* ''Careful (1992)'': One of Creator/GuyMaddin's first feature films is about a small mountain town where every citizen must move and speak very quietly to avoid this. So naturally, Maddin produced it as a silent film.

* "Series/YoungIndianaJones and the Mystery of the Blues": In 1950, Indy (Creator/HarrisonFord) and his friend are pursued and take refuge from a snowstorm in a cabin. After the bad guys catch on them and steal the artifact of the day, Indiana Jones seems to give up and just play on a soprano sax... until he blows a long note, making the snow on top of the cabin and the nearby trees fall down and bury the villains.

[[folder: Western Animation]]

* [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]] in the ''WesternAnimation/{{SpongeBob SquarePants}}'' episode "The Idiot Box".

'''[=SpongeBob=]:''' (''shouting'') OUR VOICES!\\
(''Squidward kicks the box'')\\
(''avalanche sounds plus [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick screaming in terror emit from their cardboard box until the avalanche fades away, leaving [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick sobbing from the pain'')\\
'''Squidward:''' (''horrified, touches the box very gingerly'') Sponge...Bob?\\
(''sounds from a'' second ''avalanche plus [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick screaming in terror emit from their cardboard box'')

** Episode "Mountain of Madness": The first avalanche is caused by Homer & Mr. Burns clinking two glasses together in a toast. The second is caused by their boisterous "Huzzah!" after digging themselves out of the first. Then,
-->'''Homer:''' I think when we yelled we caused another avalanche. (''another avalanche'')\\
'''Burns:''' (''whispering'') We should... be... careful... not... to speak... unless... it's... absolutely... pos-i-tively... necessary. (''AVALANCHE'')\\
'''Homer:''' Shh. (''AVALANCHE'') You're... causing... more... avalanches. (''AVALANCHE'') I (''AVALANCHE'') think (''AVALANCHE'') they've (''AVALANCHE'') stopped. (''{{Beat}}''... '''AVALANCHE''')\\
'''Burns:''' Let's go. (''AVALANCHE'')

-->'''Carl:''' (''singing'') We're spies! And it's really cold! I wish I had some hot chocolate!\\

'''Sheen:''' (''at the top of his lungs'') AVALANCHE?!\\
(''rumbling is heard'')\\

-->-- ''Discworld/ReaperMan'', by '''Creator/TerryPratchett'''

* Mentioned in ''Discworld/ReaperMan''.

* In ''Disney/TheTiggerMovie'', Tigger ends up triggering an avalanche while shouting at his friends that he needs to find his family.

* ''Disney/{{Mulan}}'': Shooting a rocket into a snow-filled cliffside is how Mulan defeats the rampaging Hun horde.

* ''Disney/BrotherBear2'': Koda triggers one while shouting at Nita to leave him alone.

* ''Animation/HappyHeroes'': In Season 3 episode 12, Big M. hits Little M. while they are on a snowy mountain. The impact is somehow enough to make the explosive barrels they've set up blow up, causing an avalanche.

* A small-scale version in ''ComicStrip/BigNate'' has snow fall off the roof onto a shouting Ellen, [[{{Irony}} who was trying to avoid a]] SnowballFight.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama World Tour'' episode "Slap Slap Revolution", the teams have to sing a song in an avalanche area in Austria. It's very quiet, until Tyler shouts out in happiness because [[TheDitz Lindsay]] finally recognizes him after six episodes.

* Occurs in the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "Dragonshy". While climbing a (snowless) mountain, Twilight Sparkle warns the others that they're entering an avalanche zone, and that the smallest noise could create a rock slide. Fluttershy, already on pins-and-needles, instantly panics and shouts "Avala--!" when she feels something touch her backside. She's immediately hushed as they wait for the echoes to stop. Then they sigh with relief. ''This'' triggers the rock slide.

* Brainy Smurf causes one in the beginning of ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'' episode "The Smurfs That Time Forgot".

-->'''Pooh:''' I don't think so, Piglet.
* ''Disney/{{Brother Bear}}'' 2: Koda triggers one while shouting at Nita to leave him alone.

[[folder: Eastern Animation]]
* Inverted and then taken UpToEleven for laughs in NuPogodi. While in the mountains, Wolf, after being thwarted by the Hair again, screams his CatchPhrase at the top of his lungs. Snowpeaks reverberate visibly and... a handful of snow drops on his head. He repeats it again, in normal voice, and is buried in a large snowpile. [[TooDumbToLive Clearly not seeing the pattern]], he whispers it quietly, and, of course, causes an avalanche.
[[/folder]]

* Implied in a ''ComicStrip/Dilbert'' strip where the Pointy-Haired Boss is on vacation. Wally calls the ski resort the Boss is visiting and asks if there are frequent avalanches. When he gets the affirmative, he asks the guy on the other end of the phone to tell the boss he said (in an angry tone) '''[[SuddenlyShouting "HI!!!"]]'''

* ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolf'': In episode 5 of ''Pleasant Goat Fun Class: Chapter of Sports'', Wolffy screams through a megaphone and ends up causing snow to fall, later causing an avalanche.

(''avalanche sounds plus [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick screaming in terror emit from their cardboard box'')