The Avalanche Hour Podcast

In the last episode of Season 8, I sit down with Mike Peterson. Mike is an engineer and avid backcountry splitboarder who lives in Salt Lake City. He reached out to the show and wanted to share his experience from an avalanche that left him with a significant injury. Mike provides his honest reflection on trends he saw in his own backcountry habits, outside-of-the-mountain influences, and margins leading up to this incident. He had ample time while recovering from his broken neck to analyze how he could better play the long-game while backcountry riding. He shares those thoughts on the show. If you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, you can reach out to us at theavalanchehourpodcast@gmail.com Music on this ‘sode: Tussle & Eventually Provided by Ketsa: www.ketsa.uk Support for this episode was provided by: Wyssen Avalanche Control Gordini USA OpenSnow

Episode 8.29 Unique Summer Careers The Northern Hemisphere winter is over and avy pros are returning to summer jobs. For many, this is forest firefighting – a natural fit with opposing seasons and complementary skill sets. For some, however, the summer provides an opportunity to completely unplug from the challenges of winter work and pursue other passions. In this episode, host Dom Baker speaks with two ski guides who have each built businesses pursuing a summer passion. Kevin Armstong, an ACMG ski guide, builds hand-welded custom bikes for passionate riders. Whether for road, gravel, or singletrack, Six Mile Bikes builds unique, made to order, dream bikes! Eric Chevalier is a veteran ski guide and the guiding manager at Selkirk Cat Skiing. He is also a long-time shipwright – building and restoring wooden boats. The Copper Nail Wooden Boat Shop offers world-class wooden boat restoration and building services. Tune in to hear the highs, lows and unexpected parallels between ski guiding and chasing a passion in a quiet workshop. Music for this episode by Gravy @gravy.tunes www.wyssenavalanche.com www.gordini.com www.opensnow.com www.sixmilebikes.com www.woodenboatshop.ca

In this installment of The Avalanche Hour Podcast; Wes Gregg sits down for a conversation with Australian Ski Guide, Forecaster and Educator, Kyle Boys from Mountain Safety Collective (MSC). MSC is a not for profit in Australia that provides daily backcountry condition reports. These reports help serve a growing community of winter backcountry enthusiasts. We also discuss what the hazards are for the users which is slightly different from what we experience in North America. Kyle is back in Canada this year completing his CAA Level 2, a CSGA course, and working as a mechanized guide. Please enjoy! Mountain Safety Collective - Mountainsafetycollective.org Kyle Boys - @blizzard_acadamy Music in this episode is used with permission of the artist, Gravy from Nelson, BC! Artwork by Mike Tea, miketea.com The Avalanche Hour Podcast is proudly supported by: Gordini USA Wyssen Avalanche Control Episode produced by Wes Gregg

In this episode, we chat with long time industry professional Colin Zacharias. Colin has spent over 40 years working in the snow, avalanche, guiding, consulting, and education realms. Throughout our interview, Colin talks about some of the trends that he has seen within the industry as well as trends in accidents. He talks about how recreationists might learn from some of the habits of professional guides, and he recounts some early memories of venturing into the backcountry. Enjoy. Music by Ketsa Support provided by: Wyssen Avalanche Control Gordini USA OpenSnow GoFund Me for the Family of Rob Coppollilo: https://gofund.me/c17787bf The Powder Cloud: The Seductive Lure of Tracks https://thepowdercloud.com/learn/avalanche-education/the-seductive-lure-of-tracks/

EPISODE 8.26 On today's episode join us as Ellen Bradley and Jossline Jackson share their personal and poignant connections to their indigenous roots through skiing and science, guided by mentor and educator Mike Janes. We delve into the importance of indigenous knowledge in environmental stewardship and explore initiatives that make outdoor spaces accessible and inclusive. Socials: The Avalanche Hour Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/theavalanchehourpodcast/ Links: RASOR program: https://rasor.alaska.edu/ Alaska Avalanche School: https://alaskaavalanche.org/ Douglas Indian Association: https://diataku.com/ Sealaska Heritage: https://sealaskaheritage.org/institute/education/programs Juneau Poster_RASOR (1).pdf Sponsors for this episode: Wyssen: https://www.wyssenavalanche.com/en/ Gordini: http://www.gordini.com OpenSnow: http://www.opensnow.com Crew: Host - Brooke "Shiny" Edwards https://www.instagram.com/wildworldwanderings Producer - Cameron Griffin: https://www.instagram.com/backcountrycam/ Donate: The Avalanche Hour Podcast: https://www.theavalanchehour.com/donate The American Avalanche Association: https://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/donate Music: Ketsa: 80's vision/Ketsa Ketsa: Hold on/ketsa

In this episode our European contributors, Matthias Walcher and Christoph Mitterer from @ÖGSL, interview Snow Scientists, and current intern at @ÖGSL; Manuel Genswein. Manuel is a one-of-a-kind individual and no stranger to the avalanche industry. As a lone wolf, he has been traveling the world for over 30 years bringing his strategies and ideas to the field of avalanche rescue. In this episode we talk about where he grew up? How he got involved with the avalanche industry? and we dive into experiences he has had along the way. He tells us which innovations he is most proud of and what ideas didn't fly? Listen in to find out more and check out Manuel's website for access to his courses and papers: mountainsafety.info Music by Gravy - Freebird You can find his tracks at gravytunes.bandcamp.com. Big shout out to the designer of our sweet logo Mike Tea. You can see more of Mike's work over at miketea.com Support for this episode provided by: @wyssen_avalanche_control @gordiniusa @opensnow @american_avalanche_association

In this episode, Harry Keane interviews one of his mentors, David Lovejoy. We introduce Harry, then turn the mic over to David as he talks about some of his memories of exploring crags, alpine peaks, and snowy mountains across the globe. David attended Prescott College, where he eventually became a faculty member and professor. In the early 1980's, he developed an Avalanche Forecasting course in collaboration with Tim Lane and Jerry Roberts of Colorado's Department of Transportation. This course set the hook for many people who have gone on to make big splashes through their lifelong careers in the snow and avalanche industry. David provides us with insights and wisdom from his years of cultivating his curious fascination with avalanches. Tune in. Music by Ketsa Thanks to: Wyssen Avalanche Control Gordini USA OpenSnow

Episode 8.23 John “Buff” Buffery John “Buff” Buffery has had a long and diverse career in avalanche and mountain risk management, spending time at ski hills, guiding, risk management for highways, movie rigging, and much more. From ski guiding on tele skis back in the early days of his career to building his own split board in the 90s - Buff has pioneered his own path in the mountains. He was Craig Kelly's personal guide for much of his career, and has guided and mentored the likes of Travis Rice, Robin Van Gyn, and many others over the years. He brings a thoughtful and reflective approach to risk management; a personal style that has accompanied him while pioneering new guiding operations in remote terrain, or rigging stunts for the latest Hollywood blockbuster. Tune in for lessons learned and philosophies developed over a rich life in the mountains. Buff talks about avalanche education for pro snowboarders, the evolution of a path into guiding for snowboarders, and longevity in a physically taxing career – and so much more. Enjoy! Sponsors for this episode: Wyssen : https://www.wyssenavalanche.com/en/ Gordini - www.gordini.com OpenSnow - www.opensnow.com Crew: Host - Dom Baker Producer - Cameron Griffin - https://www.instagram.com/backcountrycam/ Donate: The Avalanche Hour Podcast - https://www.theavalanchehour.com/donate The American Avalanche Association - https://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/donate Music: Gravy - @gravy.tunes

In this episode, Caleb sits down with Ethan Greene, Director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. It is the CAIC's 50th anniversary this year, and we are happy to have Ethan on the show to celebrate it. Ethan has truly blended the theory and practice of snow and avalanche work through academia and research coupled with his career as a ski patroller-turned avalanche forecaster. We chat about the extensive history of the CAIC and some of the strategies that his team employs including the decision to use flexible forecast zones and the implementation of a stress resiliency program. Music provided by Gravy. https://gravytunes.bandcamp.com Want to hear more about the history of CAIC? Listen to my interview with Knox Williams: https://on.soundcloud.com/FstGgd9Az3zmFrnF7

It's been a rough week. I hope you can smile while remembering Matt Primomo through listening to our interview from a few years ago. We lost another great human and avalanche professional last week- Nick Burks. A call to action of our community to reach out to The Avalanche Hour with stories of Nick that can be recorded and put together into a podcast episode. Email theavalanchehourpodcast@gmail.com to find out how to get involved. Music by Ketsa. https://ketsa.uk/ Go Fund Me for Stella and Milo: https://www.gofundme.com/f/supporting-stella-and-milo Resources for Grief and Support: Thanks to the help of Erin Good of Updraft Counseling for providing these descriptions. Responder Alliance - works to build awareness of stress injury and increase resilience for folks who work in austere environments. Please note they are largely focused on prevention, however many of the resources and tools are very applicable and provide a good foundation for having conversations around stress and trauma. https://www.responderalliance.com/ Climbing Grief Fund, American Alpine Club - CGF hosts a therapist directory and offers individual grants of up to $600 to individuals who have experienced grief or trauma related to climbing, alpinism, or ski mountaineering. You do not have to be a member of the American Alpine Club to apply for a CGF grant. https://americanalpineclub.org/grieffund American Avalanche Association - The A3 Avalanche Resilience Project also hosts a therapist directory with folks who have familiarity with the industry. A3 also offers a "resilience grant" of up to $500 to Professional and Affiliate members who are interested in pursuing therapy. https://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/resilience-project Survivors of Outdoor Adventures and Recovery (SOAR) - SOAR offers professionally-facilitated peer support groups for folks who have experienced loss or trauma in the outdoors. I just attended one of their community connection workshops on grief and trauma and found it very helpful. Get in touch with this wonderful organization! http://soar4life.org/ Mountain Muskox - For our northern friends, Mountain Muskox is a fantastic organization that offers professionally-facilitated in person peer support circles in BC and Alberta. They also offer a weekend gathering each fall. https://www.mountainmuskox.com/ The Redside Foundation - Redside provides funding for guides who are in need of medical or mental health care. They do not provide counseling directly, but rather they will pay for up to eight therapy sessions for guides in need. While they focus on individuals who live in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. If you don't live in one of these states, don't let it stop you from getting in touch. They will help! https://www.redsidefoundation.org/ Bigger Than The Trail - BTTT is an organization that uses trail running as a platform to talk about mental health. They also offer scholarships to folks who experience financial barriers to individual therapy. BTTT will pay for up to eight therapy sessions, however please note they do not have a directory - they work with existing platforms such as BetterHelp or Calmerry, so the therapist may or may not have a familiarity with outdoor / backcountry pursuits. Still, it is a great option for someone who needs support. https://www.bttt.run/support

In this episode, Caleb sits down with Jayson Simons-Jones. We chat about Jayson's career as an IFMGA Mountain Guide, a guide service owner, an avalanche educator, and now his new role as the Recreation Education Manager for the American Avalanche Association. Jayson provides thoughtful insights and reflection on how he approaches bringing a deep sense of meaning and connection while taking people skiing in the backcountry. We dive into some of the key points of a great article he wrote for The Avalanche Review titled: Group Communication and Decision Making Tactics. We chat about his new role at the A3 and some of his goals within the position. We wrap up the hour with Jayson sharing some nuggets of wisdom through lessons delivered to him in the backcountry. Group Communication and Decision-Making Tactics TAR 39.4 Page 34: https://theavalanchereview.org/tar-39-4/ We hope you enjoy. Music by Ketsa www.ketsa.uk Support for this episode is provided by: Wyssen Avalanche Control www.wyssenavalanche.com Gordini USA www.gordini.com OpenSnow www.opensnow.com RecPak www.recpak.co Want to level up your tour planning game? Check out www.mtnmapping.com and use code: THEAVALANCHEHOUR to receive 30% off the $25 annual subscription. Thanks Will McKay for putting this great resource together!

Ep 8.20 Mentorship and community building What is mentorship? How does it strengthen a community? Is mentorship even the right word? Let's dive in… Backcountry skiing and riding can be an intimidating sport to get into. We all know the avalanche and first aid courses are a must, but it can be hard to connect with more experienced backcountry users to practice the skills. How does a person find that mentorship of a more experienced backcountry traveler and build a community of like minded people interested in getting after it and safely shredding the pow? There are organizations around North America (and probably around the world) dedicated to helping new backcountry skiers and riders make those connections. Tune in for conversations with the fine folks from such organizations as The Avalanche Awareness Beyond the Boundaries Society, Ascent Mentorships, State of the Snowpack, and Colour the Trails. Respectively, these organizations open doors and create opportunities specifically for youth, for women, for all backcountry users in a specific locale, and for Black, Indigenous and People of Colour. These organizations provide mentorship in different ways: in a course setting, one-on-one, in a live event setting, and in a group. They are a small selection of the awesome groups creating opportunities for new backcountry users, and creating community in the process. Several other organizations are referenced in the episode. They are listed below. This podcast is all about creating a stronger community amongst those with a curious fascination with avalanches. If you have an organization in your area that is doing great work opening doors, providing opportunities and building community – share it in the comments below this episode, or on the related Instagram post. Thanks for being part of that community! You can find our guests on social media at: https://www.facebook.com/AvalancheAwarenessBeyondBoundaries/ @kootenaymountainculture https://www.facebook.com/ascentmentors/ https://www.ascentmentors.ca/ @stateofthesnowpack @colourthetrails @jujumil Other groups referenced in the episode: @mountain.mentors @incluskivity @theladyalliance @aiare_official @ilsacrew @hoodstowoods @mwv_icefest @phil_henderson Other episodes referenced in the episode: 5:18 – Mt.Jumbo, Missoula Montana 6:23 – Graeme Marshal, High School Avalanche education 8.1 – Ken Wylie, IFMGA mountain guide. 6.11 – Judson Wright 5.13 – Keith Robine 4.4 Brenden Cronin Music for this episode by Gravy @gravy.tunes www.wyssenavalanche.com www.gordini.com https://opensnow.com/ https://www.safeback.no/

In this episode, Caleb sits down with forecaster Blase Reardon. Blase talks about his experiences public avalanche forecasting at the Sawtooth Avalanche Center, CAIC, and the Flathead Avalanche Center where he is currently the Director. He reflects on operational forecasting in the early days of the forecasting program for the Going To The Sun road at Glacier National Park. Blase has contributed in many ways to our community. We are stronger as a result of people like Blase being so engaged. He is a mentor, a tireless forecaster, an educator, and contributes with his writing degree as a former editor of The Avalanche Review and author/editor of the latest edition of The Snowy Torrents. Tune in with us for this great conversation! Music by Gravy Link to buy tickets for the A3 D5 Sweepstakes: https://www.tapkat.org/american-avalanche-association/KkqZL9

In this episode, Sean Zimmerman-Wall sits down with John Littleton. John's passion is teaching people about snow science and how to travel safely in the mountains. He is a US Navy Veteran and an American Institute for Avalanche Research & Education (AIARE) Course Leader and Instructor Trainer. John holds his AIARE Level 3 Certification and is a professional member of the American Avalanche Association. Having called Lake Tahoe home for almost 20 years. John has been both a Professional Ski Patroller at Palisades Ski Resort and an Outdoor Educator teaching Experiential Education at the Primary, Secondary, and College levels. Support for this episode was provided by Wyssen Avalanche Control Gordini USA OpenSnow IPA Collective

Sunshine is a certified ski guide, avalanche educator, river guide, father, and husband who currently lives in Colorado's Roaring Fork Valley. He talks about his early days of backcountry skiing in Colorado before exploring Oregon's Wallowa Mountains as a ski guide for Wallowa Alpine Huts. 10 years ago, Sunshine was guiding a group of guests out of the Schneider Cabin on the South flank of Cornucopia Peak when an avalanche was triggered and tragically took the lives of one of his guests and his tail guide. Sunny spent the night with two other guests who were critically injured before being evacuated the next day. Through our discussion, he provides an honest reflection of the event and of the process of moving forward with his life and guiding career. We are grateful for his contribution to our community through sharing his story, which will undoubtedly help others.

EPISODE 8.16 Experience a unique adventure in this episode as Tele Mike and Brooke take us from the exhilarating rush of heated side-by-sides to the awe-inspiring helicopter rides over Alaska's snowy peaks. This episode isn't just about skiing; it's a profound journey of transformation and discovery. Tele Mike's story begins on the East Coast, where a life-altering moment reshaped his destiny. Witnessing the fall of the Twin Towers firsthand, he was engulfed in a moment of introspection, realizing the fragility of life and the importance of pursuing one's passions. This epiphany led him to Colorado just four months later, where he plunged headfirst into the world of skiing. From an enthusiastic instructor to an adept practitioner of ski mountaineering, Tele Mike's evolution is a narrative of resilience, passion, and an unbreakable bond with the mountains. He shares his rich experiences, discussing not just the thrills and spills but also the critical moments of close calls and rescues that define the spirit of mountaineering. Join us in this inspiring episode as Tele Mike and Brooke bring the exhilarating world of skiing to life, sharing stories that resonate with adventure, life lessons, and the unyielding call of the wild. About Tele Mike: “Tele Mike” Russell has never seen a snowcapped mountain that he did not want to climb and ski. Fierce and soulful, Tele Mike is a big mountain Telemark Skier who is passionate about climbing technical routes and skiing exposed backcountry mountain descents on a global scale. Tele Mike finds gratitude and restitution in guiding and showing anyone how to access the beauty of the mountain in a way that is safe, connected, empowering, and accessible, regardless of ability levels. His ultimate motivation is to amplify ALL voices in the backcountry ski community regardless of an individual's labels or demographics. And due to his African and Native American heritage, Tele Mike has meticulously curated many mountain experiences for BIPOC communities in an effort to provide positive mountain experiences to underrepresented groups, in an effort to bring about sustained physical and mental wellbeing, and inner peace, while overcoming generational fears of open spaces. Tele Mike also loves to use his artistry to create short cinematic heartfelt mountain adventure films to show people of color that there are other people adventuring in the mountains who look like them, enjoying safe open spaces. https://us.scarpa.com/community/blog/article/mentee-spotlight-michael-russell Socials: The Avalanche hour Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/theavalanchehourpodcast/ Guest - https://www.instagram.com/tele.mike Links: To learn more about Mike, check out his mentee profile at the link below: https://www.scarpa.com/community/athletes/mike-russell Here Just a Few Of Mike's Adventures: Lumpy Ridge: https://vimeo.com/395827392/4489393b93 Tele Heli Skiing Alaska: https://vimeo.com/516090629/a72873871d Freedom Land: https://vimeo.com/430556554/9708078b8e Keep Loving the People: https://vimeo.com/417072442/e150445532 Sponsors for this episode: Wyssen : https://www.wyssenavalanche.com/en/ OpenSnow - https://opensnow.com/ (Code: AvalanchePodcast) Gordini - https://gordini.com/ Safeback - Crew: Host - Brooke “Shiny” Edwards Producer - Cameron Griffin - https://www.instagram.com/backcountrycam/ Donate: The Avalanche Hour Podcast - https://www.theavalanchehour.com/donate The American Avalanche Association - https://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/donate Music: Ketsa - intro: solstice shack out/shaolin dub Ketsa - outro: run come/shaolin dub

EPISODE 8.15 Martin Heuberger and daughter Anna(featured in episode 6.15) joins Matthias for an in-depth conversation. They explore the journey of this pioneering Austrian who ventured into the Canadian Rockies for heli-skiing. Heuberger delves into the challenges he faced in establishing a heli-ski operation, including learning the intricate processes involved. The journey was not without its hardships, as he recounts incidents of helicopters being lost and delayed rescue missions. Consequently, he collaborated with various operations to implement check-in procedures, utilizing radios to enhance the safety of crews working in the area. He speaks openly and with vivid detail about encountering physical trauma and how individuals persevered through tough circumstances. He also sheds light on his collaboration with Mike Wiegele, highlighting their significant contributions to the growth and evolution of the heli-skiing industry. Additionally, Heuberger discusses the valuable lessons he brought back to Austria, such as advanced snow profiling techniques. Socials: The Avalanche hour Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/theavalanchehourpodcast/ Guest - https://www.instagram.com/ Links: Stress Measurement Study - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165232X14002079 Sponsors for this episode: Wyssen : https://www.wyssenavalanche.com/en/ OpenSnow - https://opensnow.com/ (Code: AvalanchePodcast) Gordini - https://gordini.com/ Crew: Host - Matthias Walcher Host - Anna Heuberger Producer - Cameron Griffin - https://www.instagram.com/backcountrycam/ Donate: The Avalanche Hour Podcast - https://www.theavalanchehour.com/donate The American Avalanche Association - https://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/donate Music: Gravy - Wildhorse

In this episode, I sit down with Josh Jespersen. Josh is the deputy director of operations at the Silverton Avalanche School, an IFMGA guide, and a former Navy Seal. We talk about his experience transitioning to civilian life, and how adventures in the mountains helped create perspective and purpose. Josh climbed and skied all of Colorado's 54 14ers in a record-breaking duration of 138 days, and we discuss how he worked to manage risk with such an objective-driven goal. He is the founder and president of Veteran's Outdoor Advocacy Group, an organization that works to enable access to outdoor adjunct therapies for all Veterans in need. We chat about why this is so important, and how the snow, avalanche, and guiding communities can get involved. We hope you enjoy our conversation. Music by Ketsa Veteran's Outdoor Advocacy Group: www.voag.org Thank you to the sponsors of this episode: Wyssen Avalanche Control Gordini USA Open Snow IPA Collective

In this episode, we start the hour by chatting with Joel Gratz, head meteorologist and founder of OpenSnow. Joel tells us why he started OpenSnow and how it can help streamline your weather analysis process to help lead you to your deepest days in the resort or favorite backcountry location. I then sit down with William Sherman of Safeback. Will is originally from Colorado, but now lives in Norway where he works for Safeback. For the last 6 years, Safeback has been developing a product to help extend the avalanche survival curve for victims buried under the snow who have a patent airway. Will explains the thorough independent research that backs the efficacy of the Safeback SBX product, we discuss how it works and how it is integrated into backpacks and vests. He is transparent about the limitations of the system and recognizes that new technology simply can't take the place of conservative decision-making in an uncertain backcountry environment. We hope you enjoy the episode! Music by Ketsa https://www.safeback.no/articles/product-testing/eurac-research-conduct-independent-medical-trial-of-safeback-sbx Support for this episode is provided by: Wyssen Avalanche Control Gordini USA OpenSnow Use code: avalanchepodcast at www.opensnow.com to receive 30% off an all access year subscription to OpenSnow.

EPISODE 8.12 Devin Gaan In this episode, Brooke sits down with Devin Gaan who uses the pronouns she/her/they/them. She is a Hong Konger, trans, queer, and an artist, who also recently became a student again. She was raised in Hong Kong before her family moved to Seattle in 1992. Where she was supported by her family through transportation into the mountains, even though they took no interest. She finds culture is very important, but something that took years to learn to take pride in. However that appreciation made space for her to learn to embrace her queerness as well. She used to work in the tech world but found she loves to ski and snowboard and is pursuing a certification to become an AIARE instructor. She would love to be in the mountains as much as possible but in the past few seasons, have focused on the quality of the individual and herself. Fortunately for you Brooke and Devin have a rich history filled with valuable stories. Socials: The Avalanche hour Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/theavalanchehourpodcast/ Devin Gaan - https://www.instagram.com/Devinelleg Sponsors for this episode: Gordini - https://gordini.com/ IPA Collective - https://ipacollective.com/ Open Snow - https://opensnow.com (Code: AvalanchePodcast) Crew: Host - Brooke “Shiny” Edwards - https://www.instagram.com/wildworldwanderings/ Producer - Cameron Griffin - https://www.instagram.com/backcountrycam/ Music: Intro: Lionheart/Shaolindub by Ketsa uk Outro: Dragonstyle/shaolindub by Ketsa uk Donate: https://www.theavalanchehour.com/donate

In this installment of The Avalanche Hour Podcast; Wes Gregg has a chat with ski film legend, farmer, and father Chris Rubens. Rubens has been a globally recognized professional skier for the past two decades. Truly dedicated to the mountains and passionate about moving in them, Chris chooses to spend the majority of his time self-propelled in the backcountry, seeking beautiful lines to showcase for the world via film, photo and social media. Over the course of his career, he has perfected the skill of delivering high quality content that resonates with viewers around the world. These days, he strives to inspire his audience to take action living and playing with less impact on the climate. Chris is able to continue his dream through the support from brands that he truly believes in. Take some time to check out the products/businesses he supports. Atomic - Atomic.com Pomoca - Pomoca.com Picture Organic Clothing - picture-organic-clothing.com Avalanche Canada - avalanche.ca Revelstoke Mountain Resort - revelstokemountainresort.com Music in this episode is provided by Gravy with the track Shabbadoobah from the album Mountains, Valleys, Places Between. You can find his tracks at gravytunes.bandcamp.com Artwork by Mike Tea, miketea.com This episode of The Avalanche Hour Podcast is proudly supported by: Wyssen Avalanche Control Gordini USA 6 Point Engineering Beacon Guidebooks Episode produced by Wes Gregg

In this episode, host Sean Zimmerman-Wall sits down with Emilie Drinkwater. Emilie is an AMGA/IFMGA Mountain Guide based in Salt Lake City, Utah but born and raised in New Hampshire. She guides year round, instructs pro and recreational avalanche courses for the American Avalanche Institute, and is a member of the AMGA Instructor Team. Emilie has a great curiosity for remote mountains around the world and has traveled, climbed, and skied in such notable locations as Alaska, Afghanistan, and India. If it were up to her, Iran, Iraq, and North Korea would be next on the list. Until then, she'll continue enjoying the abundant backyard adventures to be found in the Wasatch and beyond. Music by Ketsa Support for this episode provided by: Wyssen Avalanche Control Gordini Propagation Labs

Caleb starts out this episode catching up with Jayne Thompson-Nolan, the Executive Director of the American Avalanche Association. She lets us know about some updates and initiatives of the A3. Katie Warren drops in to chat about some of her experiences working as a Steven's Pass Patroller, helping out with highway avalanche mitigation along Highway 2, and a transition of scale to regional backcountry forecasting for NWAC. Thanks to the sponsors of the show: Wyssen Avalanche Control Gordini 6 Point Engineering Beacon Guidebooks Music by Gravy www.americanavalancheassociation.org www.nwac.us www.evergreentrailruns.com

Caleb sits down with Jon Ferrian. Jon loves to snowmobile. He has been riding his whole life and has a strong passion for spreading the word about backcountry safety amongst a greater audience on his live-streamed podcast, Live Large Universe. Jon talks about the progression in his own backcountry avalanche awareness and how he has seen a shift in the motorized culture to a place where being avy-savvy is cool! Jon created the Live Large University Scholarship program in partnership with AIARE to make avalanche education more accessible to riders. He chats with us about what the Avalanche Alliance is, and how the money from the Avalanche Alliance Sweepstakes is making a difference for all user groups through the support of avalanche forecast centers. Music by Gravy @gravy.tunes Buy your tickets to the Avalanche Alliance Sweepstakes by December 10,2023: https://www.tapkat.org/american-institute-for-avalanche-research-education/Wk1eqk?promo=LIVELARGE Avalanche Alliance: https://www.avalanche-alliance.org/ Live Large Universe: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=jon%20ferrian%20live

Whether we are celebrating, processing, or grieving an event in the mountains, many of us reach for a drink to help us along the way. Alcohol is steeped in our culture as a whole, but can become especially amplified in ski and mountain culture. What happens when it gets out of control for some of us? In today's episode, several of your hosts from the podcast share their stories of how they came to give up alcohol in recent years. Wes, Sean, and Caleb are joined by Jake Hutchinson to give their perspectives on their relationship with alcohol. Laura McGladrey sat in on the conversation and added some reflective perspective towards the end of the chat. The hope of this episode is not meant to shame or preach, but simply to share our stories and reflect on how alcohol has impacted our careers and personal lives. We hope that this episode will help someone out there who may be struggling with some of the same issues we have faced. Websites: Alcoholics Anonymous: https://www.aa.org/ Responder Alliance: www.responderalliance.com Warriors healing network: https://warriorshealingnetwork.org/ Redside Foundation: https://www.redsidefoundation.org/ Mountain Muskox: https://www.mountainmuskox.com/ Funding: American Avalanche Association Resiliency Fund: https://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/a3-resilience-grant Climbing Grief Fund: https://americanalpineclub.org/grieffund Literature: https://thisnakedmind.com/ https://www.aa.org/the-big-book Music in this episode is provided by Gravy with the track Shabbadoobah from the album Mountains, Valleys, Places Between. You can find his tracks at gravytunes.bandcamp.com. Artwork by Mike Tea, miketea.com Episode produced by Wes Gregg

Known as the ‘Godfather Of Freeskiing', Mike Douglas is consistently listed by media outlets as one of the most influential skiers of all time. He began his career as a mogul skier on the Canadian Freestyle Ski Team in the early 1990s. In 1997, he developed the first high-performance twin-tip ski, the Salomon Teneighty, and his freeskiing career was launched. Dubbed the New Canadian Air Force, Mike and his crew of Canadians revolutionized the sport with their tricks at ski resorts across the globe. He even has a signature tick - the D Spin. Mike has appeared in more than 50 ski films, was named Powder Magazine's ‘Male Skier Of The Year' in 2003, and was the voice of skiing at the X Games for 14 years. In 2004, Mike founded Switchback Entertainment - a video production company specializing in outdoor adventure films and commercials. He launched the groundbreaking web series, Salomon TV, in 2007 and has produced/directed more than a dozen award-winning films including The Freedom Chair, Tempting Fear, Eclipse, Snowman, Guilt Trip and Fountain Of Youth. From 1997-2017 his role as a marketing consultant and ambassador for Whistler Blackcomb helped propel the organization to the top of the ski resort rankings. He has been named ‘Favourite Whistlerite' 7 times by the readers of Whistler's local newspaper, Pique Newsmagazine. Today, Mike is a married father of two, and splits his time between raising his family, skiing professionally, producing/directing films and commercials at Switchback Entertainment, and environmental advocacy work. He is the former Board Chair for Protect Our Winters Canada - an environmental group focused on fighting climate change. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation. You can find him on social media at: Instagram: @mikedski Twitter: @mikedski Facebook.com/mikedouglas Music for this episode by Gravy @gravy.tunes www.switchbackentertainment.com Sam and Me – Overcoming Climate Anxiety https://youtu.be/itPEPpiMojc?si=E5pLii2ZitxllkDW www.protectourwinters.ca www.protectourwinters.org www.wyssenavalanche.com www.gordini.com www.sixpointeng.com

In this episode, Caleb sits down with Rob Coppolillo. Rob is an IFMGA guide, avalanche educator, and author of The Ski Guide Manual (among other titles). Rob talks about his progression to become a pinned mountain guide, tips his hat to some folks who influenced him along the way, and chats about living and ski guiding in Europe. We discuss some ideas on effective avalanche education as well as what went into writing his books. Rob reflects on a couple close ones....and then reflects on reflecting (debriefing!). We hope you enjoy! Music on today's episode is Ketsa: "40 something" and "Anvil" Thanks to the sponsors of today's episode: Wyssen Avalanche Control Gordini Propagation Labs

Part 2 of Caleb Merril and Dom Baker's conversation with Eirik Sharp – the President of the Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA). In part 2 Eirik shares his experiences from a diverse career in almost every corner of the avalanche world. From ski patrol to research, ski guiding to avalanche forecasting in remote places – Eirik has tales to tell and thoughtful reflections to learn from. Dig in to this gem of a conversation. Eirik is a long-time avalanche professional based in Whitehorse, Yukon. Originally from Norway, he grew up skiing backcountry and has worked in the snow for 18 years as a researcher, forecaster, educator, consultant, and ACMG ski guide. He has an M.Sc. in GIS with research focused on applications of machine learning to avalanche mapping. He currently works on the Alpine Solutions Avalanche Services engineering team, specializing in terrain modelling and avalanche risk assessment. However, he still gets out into the field to support industrial operational avalanche risk management programs as much as he can through the winter. Eirik is passionate about supporting, promoting, and elevating professional avalanche practice in Canada; he worked for ten years as an instructor with the Canadian Avalanche Association's industry training program and has served as President of the CAA since 2022. Music for this episode by Gravy @gravy.tunes Episode produced by Wes Gregg at Trigger Backcountry Adventures www.avalancheassociation.ca www.wyssenavalanche.com www.gordini.com www.beaconguidebooks.com

Caleb Merril and Dom Baker are joined by Eirik Sharp – the President of the Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA). CAA is the professional organization that ensures a high standard of practice for avalanche workers in Canada. The CAA Industry Training Program is registered private post-secondary training institution that provides the professional level avalanche training for avalanche practitioners in Canada. The CAA also provides the information sharing system for avalanche operations in Canada and beyond – InfoEX. In part one Eirik talks about the CAA history, membership structure, avalanche education and the unique challenges of being a software provider. CAA members may work in any number of different facets of the snow and avalanche world, from guiding to education, patrolling to avalanche forecasting, and for operations such as ski resorts, heli, cat or ski touring operations and industrial or transportation settings such as mines, pipelines, highways or railway. This broad set of avalanche practitioners are united by a common training stream, a daily information exchange, and a common standard of practice. In large part this has all been coordinated by the Canadian Avalanche Association Eirik is a long-time avalanche professional based in Whitehorse, Yukon. Originally from Norway, he grew up skiing backcountry and has worked in the snow for 18 years as a researcher, forecaster, educator, consultant, and ACMG ski guide. He has an M.Sc. in GIS with research focused on applications of machine learning to avalanche mapping. He currently works on the Alpine Solutions Avalanche Services engineering team, specializing in terrain modelling and avalanche risk assessment. However, he still gets out into the field to support industrial operational avalanche risk management programs as much as he can through the winter. Eirik is passionate about supporting, promoting, and elevating professional avalanche practice in Canada; he worked for ten years as an instructor with the Canadian Avalanche Association's industry training program and has served as President of the CAA since 2022. Music for this episode by Gravy @gravy.tunes Episode produced by Wes Gregg at Trigger Backcountry Adventures www.avalancheassociation.ca www.wyssenavalanche.com www.gordini.com www.beaconguidebooks.com

In this episode, Dr. Sara Boilen sits down with Caleb to discuss the broad topic of human factors. We explore the concept that acknowledgment and awareness of our human factors (the perception of our situation and environment, cognitive biases, and heuristic traps) may not be enough. While the concept is embraced within our community, perhaps we lack the tools and framework to deal with them as they will ultimately arise in all backcountry adventures. Sara provides some tools to start this work for yourself and amongst your touring partners. She was fresh back from presenting at the Wyoming Snow and Avalanche Workshop and reflected on some presentations that hit home for her. Music by Gravy. Dr. Sara Boilen is a clinical and forensic psychologist and the owner of Sweetgrass Psychological Services in Northwest Montana. She earned her doctorate from the University of Denver where she researched the impact of rock climbing on women's sense of hope and courage. She founded Sweetgrass Psychological Services ten years ago to meet the growing need for accessible and affordable mental healthcare in Montana. She later founded Well Montana, a nonprofit aimed at meeting all Montanans wherever they are in their mental wellness journey. She is the board chair of SheJumps and in her free time engages in research, theory development, and education for the avalanche community that she holds dear. She spends her days alternating between testifying in forensic cases, supervising bright trainees in her clinic, providing therapy to clients, and tromping up mountains typically with some sort of dessert in her bag. She lives with her partner and their dog, Klaus, outside of Whitefish, MT. The Monkey Business Illusion: https://youtu.be/IGQmdoK_ZfY?si=GjADdF8qSBsyDUkN "Your gonna be glad I brought two cookies" recipe: https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/salted-butter-and-chocolate-chunk-shortbread Sara's favorite chocolate cake recipe: https://smittenkitchen.com/2015/02/the-i-want-chocolate-cake-cake/ Sara's Human Factor MadLibs: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/58daf985e3df28fd7e577a10/t/6539b5d58835e52841e6839d/1698280920164/Mad+Libs.png WYSAW recording: COMING SOON!

Today's episode features Peter Bilous. Peter is a yankee who resides in Wanaka, New Zealand. He has spent 70-plus seasons playing and working in the snow. He has ski tour and heli-ski guided all across the globe throughout his career and has had a big hand in professional avalanche education in New Zealand. Peter is the Avalanche and Snowsports program manager at Otago Polytechnic where about 90% of New Zealand's Pro courses take place. We chat about what has gone into the development and progression of the program. Peter recounts a close call in an avalanche and some of the contributing weather, snowpack, and human factors that played a role. Finally, he talks about some of the accomplishments of his two sons in the Freeride World Tour and Olympics! We hope you enjoy! Music by Ketsa: "Turn it on" and "Plus 9" Otago Polytechnic Avalanche Safety Program: https://www.op.ac.nz/study/avalanche-safety/ ISSW Proceeding Archive by Year: https://arc.lib.montana.edu/snow-science/workshops.php Thank you to Wyssen Avalanche Control and 6 Point Engineering for their support for this episode.

It's the season opener of the podcast…Welcome back! In this episode, Caleb sits down with Ken Wylie. Ken is an IFMGA guide who works extensively in the field of human hazard management. His business, Archetypal works with first line workers, guide teams, and more to help people understand how they are showing up to critical decision making processes. Ken talks about his involvement in a tragic avalanche accident in 2003 that left him buried for 40 minutes. Ken wrote a book, Buried 2020 that chronicles his journey to make meaning out of and heal from this avalanche. He has plenty of wisdom to share about what, for many of us can only be our worst nightmare coming to life. Ken talks about parts of the process that has helped him in healing from this life altering event. We hope you enjoy our conversation. Music by Ketsa. Ken's Website: archetypal.ca Blog: https://www.archetypal.ca/blog Email: Ken@archetypal.ca Video Links: “The Weight We Carry” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wug0wO-P-Ns The Zone Film https://vimeo.com/740476166 Podcasts: The Existence Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oXilw8KXDc&feature=youtu.be Stories From The Field: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/buried-a-story-of-healing-after-a-high/id1440862416?i=1000617688958 Intuitively Aligned Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ep-18-from-avalanche-to-awakening-with-ken-wylie/id1684581754?i=1000627584802

As Season 7 of the podcast comes to an end, this episode is a bit of a smorgasbord of guests. First we hear from Dara Miles who reached out after hearing the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale episode. Dara started the Colorado ATES project and stops by to tell us more about it. We then dive into a conversations with IFMGA guide Gary Kuehn and Ian Snape from Frontline Mind. They are running a "resiliency scan" amongst snow and avalanche professionals to find out more about our profession as a whole in terms of our reactions to stressful and difficult situations. To wrap up the episode, Kevin Grove, Co-Chair of the 2023 ISSW swings by to give us a glimpse as to what to expect at the Bend International Snow Science Workshop coming up in October. It's been a pleasure hosting and producing the podcast this season, and I couldn't have done it with a little help from my friends. Thanks to all the contributing hosts that shared the load with me: Dom Baker, Sean Zimmerman-Wall, Wesley Gregg, Matthias Walcher, and Brooke Edwards! Also a huge shout out for the production help from Wes and Cameron Griffin. The podcast wouldn't be possible without support from companies such as Wyssen Avalanche Control, Athletic Greens, Six Point Engineering, CalTopo, and Backcountry Nav. Links: Colorado ATES Project Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087388533494 Frontline Mind: www.frontlinemind.com TAKE THE RESILIENCY SCAN SURVEY HERE: https://collector.sensemaker-suite.com/collector?projectID=141065e1-09dd-48f5-be2a-10158efd03a7 ISSW2023: https://www.issw2023.com/

In today's episode, we're thrilled to host Melis Coady, who has just triumphantly wrapped up her 7th season as the executive director of the Alaska Avalanche School. With over two decades of experience in the challenging fields of mountaineering and avalanche studies, Melis has since emerged as a prominent figure in outdoor education, bringing her deep knowledge to roles such as a mountaineering instructor, climbing guide, and wilderness medicine instructor. Making her home in Talkeetna, Alaska since the late 90's, Melis first navigated the intricate world of snow and avalanches through daring expeditions in Alaska. These experiences laid the groundwork for her career, leading to her role as a climbing instructor for the renowned NOLS and Alaska Mountaineering School. Her determination and expertise then propelled her to become a high-altitude mountaineering guide, amassing a formidable tally of ascents on Denali, Foraker, and countless other peaks. Melis' adaptability and thirst for new challenges also led her to become a climbing ranger in Denali National Park, where she worked for four summers educating climbers, safeguarding natural resources, and serving as a vital member of a technical rescue team. This adventurous spirit even took her to the South Pole, where was working as an arctic guide for Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions. In this enlightening episode, Brooke and Melis delve into what makes Alaska a uniquely potent and effective classroom for avalanche education. They also explore the intriguing use of the expedition format as a means of teaching formal avalanche courses. With her profound experience and relentless passion for outdoor education, Melis imparts invaluable insights into the world of mountaineering and avalanche safety, making this episode a must-listen. Socials: The Avalanche hour Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/theavalanchehourpodcast/ Melis - https://www.instagram.com/akavalancheschool/ Links: Alaska Avalanche School - https://alaskaavalanche.org/ Sponsors for this episode: Wyssen : https://www.wyssenavalanche.com/en/ Crew: Host - Brooke Shiny Edwards - https://www.instagram.com/wildworldwanderings/ Executive Producer - Caleb Merrill Producer - Cameron Griffin - https://www.instagram.com/backcountrycam/ Donate: The Avalanche Hour Podcast - https://www.theavalanchehour.com/donate The American Avalanche Association - https://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/donate Music: By Ketsa - https://ketsa.uk/ Intro: New Highs Old Lows Music outro: Percussive Melodies 4

In this episode, we explore the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES). We speak to Grant Statham, who developed ATES while working for Parks Canada. Grant discusses its development, creation of ATES ratings maps, and its evolution. Next, we talk to John Sykes, an avalanche forecaster, about his work creating automated ATES maps. Auto ATES significantly reduces the time needed for creating human-generated maps, allowing for further fine-tuning with local knowledge. Lastly, we chat with Andy Sovick about Beacon Guidebooks. Andy and his guidebook authors have incorporated ATES into their products, which aids in backcountry tour planning. Grant Statham: Grant Statham is a mountain guide, climber, and avalanche forecaster based in Canmore, Alberta. He works for Parks Canada with a team of mountain guides that handle avalanche forecasting and search and rescue in Banff, Yoho, & Kootenay National Parks. He develops risk-based systems, is an adjunct professor at Simon Fraser University, and an Arcteryx Ambassador for 25 years. John Sykes: John began his career as an avalanche professional in 2011. After completing an MSc at the Snow and Avalanche Laboratory, he has been working on a PhD with the Simon Fraser University Avalanche Research Program. John is a member of the board of directors of the Alaska Avalanche School and a professional member of the American Avalanche Association. Andy Sovick: Andy, originally from Fort Collins, moved to Durango and graduated from Fort Lewis College. In 2005, he and his wife Gail moved to Crested Butte. While working as a timber-framer, Andy created the "Off-Piste Ski Atlas" for the Crested Butte area in 2013 and the Silverton zone in 2014. In 2015, he founded his publishing company. Socials: The Avalanche Hour Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/theavalanchehourpodcast/ Grant Statham - Links: WySAW talk - https://vimeo.com/769917679 Sponsors for this episode: Wyssen : https://www.wyssenavalanche.com/en/ Crew: Host - Caleb Merrill Producer - Cameron Griffin - https://www.instagram.com/backcountrycam/ Donate: The Avalanche Hour Podcast - https://www.theavalanchehour.com/donate The American Avalanche Association - https://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/donate

EPISODE 7.20 Chic Scott is a renowned mountain adventurer, guide, and author who has been exploring high places for over 50 years. Born in Calgary in 1945, Chic is a fourth-generation Albertan and a third-generation Calgarian with a family history of organizing amateur sports. He represented Alberta at the Canadian Junior Golf Championship in 1961 but took up mountain climbing and skiing the following year and has been passionate about these pursuits ever since. Chic has climbed and skied in many locations around the world, including the Canadian Rockies, the European Alps, and the Himalayas. He has organized clubs and foundations, written books, and worked as a mountain guide. Some of his notable achievements include the first winter ascent of Mount Assiniboine in 1967, the first successful completion of the Jasper to Lake Louise High-Level Ski Traverse, and the first Himalayan summit reached by a Canadian, Myagdi Matha, in 1973. Chic Scott is an epic writer with over 150 articles or journal contributions and 17 books as writer or co-writer, including "Summits and Icefields: Alpine Ski Tours in the Canadian Rockies", "Pushing the Limits: The Story of Canadian Mountaineering", "Ski Trails in the Canadian Rockies", "Powder Pioneers: Ski Stories from the Canadian Rockies and Columbia Mountains", and "Deep Powder and Steep Rock: The Life of Mountain Guide Hans Gmoser". Chic's guidebook, "Summits and Icefields," is considered a classic of the genre, while "Pushing the Limits, the Story of Canadian Mountaineering," is considered the authority on the subject. He has received honorary memberships in the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, the Calgary Mountain Club, The Alpine Club of Canada, and the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies. In 2000, Chic received the Bill March Summit of Excellence Award at the Banff Mountain Film Festival, and in 2018, he received the Sir Christopher Ondaatje Medal for Exploration from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Chic currently resides in Banff, Alberta, where he writes books and magazine articles, gives presentations on mountain topics, and enjoys hiking, skiing, and climbing in the nearby Rocky Mountains. Dom: Intro Chic: From golf to skiing and mountaineering 4:35 Dom: Talks about the changes and prep 7:35 Chic: Illustrates the mountains melting 11:40 Chic: Weather and going into the unknown 15:59 Dom: Ques up the Banff film festival origins 25:05 Chic: Age is a number 31:12 Chic: Explains his love for literature 35:00 Chic: You thought your move was bad 40:00 Chic: Rappelling lesson learned 56:55 Dom: Outro Socials: The Avalanche Hour Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/theavalanchehourpodcast/ Guest - https://www.instagram.com/ Links: Chic Scott's Website - https://chicscott.com/index.htm Whyte Museum Fireside chats - https://www.whyte.org/digitalvault/categories/fireside-chats Whyte Museum Pushing the Limits Legacy interview series https://www.whyte.org/pushing-limits-legacy Sponsors for this episode: Wyssen : https://www.wyssenavalanche.com/en/ Crew: Host - Dom Baker - https://instagram.com/dom_baken/ Producer - Cameron Griffin - https://www.instagram.com/backcountrycam/ Donate: The Avalanche Hour Podcast - https://www.theavalanchehour.com/donate The American Avalanche Association - https://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/donate Music: Gravy - https://soundcloud.com/gravy Devil's Punchbowl - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0I2zpUuy1U

On today's episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Kate Koons, a highly respected professional in the Avalanche industry. Kate is a resident of Victor, Idaho, and holds several critical positions in the field. She is a pro instructor for the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), was the past A3 (American Avalanche Association) pro training coordinator, and currently serves on the A3 board of directors. Kate shares with us her fascinating journey, from her NOLS experience to her current work supporting the crew in Antarctica at McMurdo Station. She delves into the immense pressure that comes with such a role and shares with us valuable insights on self-care and the importance of taking much-needed breaks. As a leader in the industry, Kate sets an example by taking time to rest and unwind, all while remaining an active participant in the world around her. While she enjoys spending time with her furry companions, she is also passionate about immersing herself in diverse experiences, such as exploring Muslim culture in Pakistan. Socials: The Avalanche hour Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/theavalanchehourpodcast/ Guest - Kate Koons - https://www.instagram.com/kkoons/?hl=en Crew: Host - Sean Zimmerman-Wall Sound Editor - Cameron Griffin - https://www.instagram.com/backcountrycam/ Sponsors for this episode: Wyssen : https://www.wyssenavalanche.com/en/ 6 Point Engineering - https://6pointeng.com/ Donate: https://www.theavalanchehour.com/donate Music- Ketsa- Can't Stop We, Boppin

On today's show, we're joined by Iain Stewart-Patterson. He is a Professor Emeritus and was one of the founding members of the Adventure Studies Department at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops BC. From his start as an Outward Bound instructor through his certification as an ACMG/IFMGA guide, Iain has led expeditions around the world and has facilitated many dream ski vacations whether accessing the terrain by heli or on foot. Iain has been guiding and instructing snow, rock, and ice adventures for over 42 years. Blending theory and practice, he earned a PhD, in which he investigated the decision processes used by expert heli and snowcat guides in avalanche terrain. Iain will share insights from his path to becoming an IFMGA guide, his entry into motorized travel in the mountains, the development of a motorized guide curriculum, and relevant research around the role intuition plays within expert decision making. With such a wealth of knowledge and experience, Iain is the perfect guest to discuss the complexities of decision-making in the mountains. Episode Breakdown: - Intro - Caleb: Introduction of Iain Stewart-Patterson (2:40) - Iain: Introduction to his beginnings (3:44) - Iain: Talking about building an Apprentice Guide Resume (8:24) - Iain: Explains the Adventure Studies Program at Thompson River - - ---- University (9:56) - Iain: Goes into his journey toward the motorized community (16:22) - Iain: Digging into avalanche motorized education (20:46) - Iain: Discusses the differences between ski and motorized travel (27:06) - Iain: Clarifies the process of creating an education curriculum (39:34) - Iain: Helps us understand snowpack penetration results with motorized travel (49:16) - Iain: Educates us about the expert halo and how to consider risk (58:20) - Iain: Incidence of over exposure (1:14:00) Outro (1:20:00) Socials: The Avalanche Hour Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/theavalanchehourpodcast/ Iain Stewart-Patterson - https://www.instagram.com/iainstewartpatterson/ Links: Thompson River University - https://www.tru.ca/adventure-studies.html Bruce Jamieson and Iain - https://vimeo.com/551688410 Stress Measurement Study - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165232X14002079 Sponsors for this episode: Wyssen : https://www.wyssenavalanche.com/en/ Crew: Host - Caleb Merrill Producer - Cameron Griffin - https://www.instagram.com/backcountrycam/ Donate: The Avalanche Hour Podacast - https://www.theavalanchehour.com/donate The American Avalanche Association - https://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/donate

Join guest host, Brooke “Shiny” Edwards in an intimate conversation exploring the literacy of loss through the different lenses of nervous system regulation and incident support as she takes a deep dive into the mental wellness toolbox with professional counselor and avalanche educator, Sydney Badger and Mountain Muskox board member and ski guide, Kim Vinet. Sydney shares the importance of adventure-informed therapy and Kim asserts that our ski professional community needs to become literate in stress injuries, trauma, and loss. Many resources are shared in our show notes for this episode and the conversation is a celebration of togetherness in community as we rally together to overcome the stigmas associated with mental health. Sydney Badger is a registered clinical counselor who runs her virtual private practice, Back to Earth Counseling. She started her career in counseling after identifying a need to support recreationists and professionals who experience trauma incidents. Sydney is passionate about adventure-informed therapy and is currently undergoing trauma training as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. Before working as a counselor, Sydney worked in the outdoor industry as a ski coach, river guide, and backcountry chef. She remains active in the ski industry by coaching women on snow, teaching virtual workshops, and offering avalanche education through a nervous system lens. Sydney's unique background and experiences enable her to connect with clients on a deeper level, particularly those who have experienced trauma in the context of adventure sports. She believes in the healing power of nature and encourages her clients to incorporate outdoor activities into their therapeutic journeys. Kim Vinet returns for another interview on The Avalanche Hour with this conversation. If you haven't heard it, check out her previous episode, 5.26. Kim is a CSGA Ski Guide, Professional Skier and Earth Scientist. Freeride skiing launched Kim into the world of backcountry skiing and education back in 2010. After a brief introduction to ski guiding professionally, Kim was involved in an avalanche fatality that changed the course of all 3 of her careers. Kim is a board member of Mountain Muskox, an organization that provides safe, supportive, professional and peer-facilitated, group circles for anyone who has experienced loss or trauma in the mountains. Kim is also the founder of Affirmative Sustainability; a consulting company dedicated to reducing your corporate footprint and creating sustainable products. Music: "I Dig You" and "Manwell" by Ketsa Links: https://www.mountainmuskox.com/ https://www.responderalliance.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2hc2FLOdhI

In this instalment of The Avalanche Hour Podcast; Dom Baker interviews the legendary Dr. Bruce Jaimeson. Bruce has been working with avalanches for over 40 years, and providing training since 1985. Bruce headed the ASARC (Applied Snow and Avalanche Research) Program at the University of Calgary Department of Civil Engineering from 1998 to 2013. Bruce Jaimeson taught professional level avalanche courses for the CAA from 1992 to 2019, as well as recreational avalanche courses through the 80s and 90s. Bruce continues to provide specialized avalanche workshops , CPD and webinars for avalanche practitioners and industry. He is a retired Avalanche Professional with the Canadian Avalanche Association and a life member (non-practicing) of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta. Links: https://www.brucejamieson.ca/ Music in this episode is used with permission of the artist, Gravy Artwork by Mike Tea, miketea.com Episode produced by Wes Gregg

In this episode, Caleb sits down with Dallas Glass, Deputy Director of the Northwest Avalanche Center. Somebody get him a badge! Dallas talks about his progression as a skier, patroller, mountain guide, educator, and avalanche forecaster. He describes the history of the NWAC, explains some of the inner working details that help to drive consistency across many different forecast zones and forecasters, and recounts some memorable avalanche cycles during his time there. We hope you enjoy it. NWAC - https://nwac.us/ Caleb: Intro (1:04) Caleb: Introduction of Dallas Glass (2:26) Dallas: About his beginnings (7:15) Dallas Life Lessons (10:02) Life Outside (10:18) Tight Team (11:28) People to Serve (12:30) People to Mentor (13:10) Needs a badge (14:09) The history of NWAC (NorthWest Avalanche Center) (14:56) https://nwac.us/about/about-us/ The organizational impact of NWAC (16:33) Hiring Forecasters: What it takes (20:20) The Forest Service & public involvement (22:50) Public observastions: help share data (25:50) Weather forecasting the future(32:24) Field Days and Forecasting (40:31) Target observations(44:40) About the danger levels (48:25) Near miss (54:29) Trip plan for the day (1:00:38) Partner Pairing (1:02:26) Minimize Unknowns (1:05:39) Life and death reality (1:07:30) Outro (1:12:55) Socials: The Avalanche hour Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/theavalanchehourpodcast/ Dallas Glass - https://www.instagram.com/dallaswglass/ NWAC - https://www.instagram.com/nwacus/ Sponsors for this episode: Wyssen : https://www.wyssenavalanche.com/en/ 6 Point Engineering: https://6pointeng.com/ Athletic Greens: https://athleticgreens.com/avalanchehour Crew: Host - Caleb Merrill Producer - Cameron Griffin - https://www.instagram.com/backcountrycam/ Donate: https://www.theavalanchehour.com/donate

In this installment of The Avalanche Hour Podcast; Wes Gregg interviews Erin Tierney the President of the CSGA as the second installment of the 'Who is the ACMG? Who is the CSGA? Erin has worked in the avalanche industry since 1997 mainly as a heli ski guide and instructor for the CSGI. Lately she has enjoyed exploring the different arms of the avalanche industry as a forecaster, avalanche tech and now as an instructor for the CAA ITP program. Erin lives in Mount Currie, BC with her family. Find out more about the CSGA/CSGI: canskiguide.com Facebook: Canadian Ski Guide Association president@canskiguide.com Music in this episode is used with permission of the artist, Age Diamante - Chakra Tonic Artwork by Mike Tea, miketea.com Episode produced by Wes Gregg

In this episode, Wes Gregg has a chat with ACMG Technical Director, Mike Adolph. This conversation is based on the concept of providing listeners an opportunity to hear directly from the source how the Technical Assessment Program works and the history of the ACMG. Mike Adolph is a ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide and also the current ACMG Technical Director. He's currently residing in Alberta splitting his time between Red Deer, his kids attend a Spanish school there and Nordegg. Mike tries to maintain a diverse winter guiding background that includes some mechanized skiing, ski touring, ice and alpine climbing as well as working as instructing in the ACMG training and assessment programs winter courses. He has been working as a guide for 25 years and completed his mountain guide certification in 2007. Skiing with his wife and two kids takes up a lot of free weekends during the winter months and is pleased to say that he's had several opportunities to ski first tracks at the local hill in Red Deer. ACMG Mission Statement: The ACMG's mission is to protect the public interest in mountain travel and climbing instruction by: Developing and administering rigorous standards for certification and professional conduct; Aiding the professionalism of its members through public advocacy and program delivery; and, Training and assessing future guides and instructors to the highest standards of risk management. web links: www.acmg.ca Association of Canadian Mountain Guides About the group. Courses and certification programs offered. Technical tips. List of certified guides. (professional association of trained and certified guides and instructors) www.acmg.ca ACMG training and assessment program - Movement screening dates and locations can be found here ACMG Course Dates and Fees (tapacmg.ca) ACMG Course Dates and Fees - tap@acmg.ca People can also find Mike at: www.viaferratacanada.com (He's built 2 ferratas in his local range) Alberta Via Ferratas | Via Ferrata Canada Via ferrata climbing for everyone in the David Thompson Rocky Mountains. Get info and guides for the Nordegg area Via Ferratas. www.viaferratacanada.com COE.ca - Rock & Ice Climbing Guiding and Courses, Youth Programs, and Retreats in the Canadian Rockies. Courses and Guiding for rock, ice and alpine climbing as well as kayaking and caving. www.coe.ca Music in this episode is used with permission of the artist, Age Diamante - Chakra Tonic Artwork by Mike Tea, miketea.com Episode produced by Wes Gregg

7.12 Simon Trautman by Caleb Merrill

Jenna works at Alta as a part time ski patroller, at Powderbird Heli Skiing as a tailguide, and as an instructor for the American Avalanche Institute. She also works as a PA in Neurosurgery, Trauma, and Critical Care at Intermountain Medical Center. She is a council member for the newly incorporated Town of Brighton in Big Cottonwood Canyon, and has spent multiple seasons on Denali as a medical provider for Denali Rescue Volunteers. She's presented at Snow and Avalanche Workshops in Utah, Wyoming, Oregon, and New Hampshire, and has contributed to The Avalanche Review and Ascent Backcountry Snow Journal. Here's a link to the podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/utah-avalanche-center-podcast/id1327581604?i=1000459555748 And here's a link to the podcast on the UAC podcast site https://utavy.libsyn.com/why-forecasting-is-poker-and-not-chess-a-conversation-with-jenna-malone And here's a link to Jenna's WYSAW Talk: https://vimeo.com/475545319?embedded=true&source=vimeo_logo&owner=4475613 And here's a link to Heather Thamm's WYSAW Talk: Forecasting for a scary low: https://vimeo.com/475482344?embedded=true&source=vimeo_logo&owner=4475613a Utah Avalanche Center Drew Hardesty blog post on Expert Intuition: https://utahavalanchecenter.org/blog/26871 Margaret Wheeler's podcast with Utah Avalanche Center on “Does Culture Eat Training for Breakfast?” Wheeler Podcast

In Episode 7.10, I sit down with Garrett and Joe from Propagation Labs. Propagation Labs carries the torch of the work that these two helped out with during their time as engineers at Avatech. Joe and Garrett talk about the history of snow penetrometers in modern day snow science and the evolution of their product, the Snow Scope. They share their ideas on the utilization of the Snow Scope in helping to decrease uncertainty around spatial variability within the snowpack and who it is designed to be used by. Another very exciting product from Propagation Labs is their development of the Snow Scope app- to be used with or without the Snow Scope as a way to record both manual and Snow Scope snowpits digitally on your phone. Hope you enjoy this one as much as I did while learning more about Propagation Labs. Music by Ketsa: www.ketsa.uk www.propagationlabs.com www.6pointeng.com https://deliveringadventure.com/

In Episode 7.10, Sean Zimmerman - Wall interviews Anna Keeling. Anna goes deep in this episode about her experiences as a mountain guide, shifting industry culture, living your values, and connecting with the wild environs we hold so dear. Anna is an IFMGA guide from Christchurch, New Zealand. Home is now Kura Tawhiti/Castle Hill Village (NZ) and Salt Lake City, Utah. Mother of one and owner/operator of Anna Keeling Guiding (AKG), Anna has spent her life zipping around outdoors - winning the world's first expedition adventure race and many multisport endurance events. Anna now trains and examines mountain and ski guides for both the New Zealand Mountain Guide Association (NZMGA) and the American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA). With a focus on affordable recreational avalanche education, she's taught avalanche courses for AKG, the New Zealand Mountain Safety council, Utah Avalanche Centre, the American Avalanche Institute and Utah Mountain Adventures. Now she joins AIARE to teach pro courses. A writer, Anna was the Ski Columnist for the Christchurch Press from 2011-2014 and managed the writing and development of the NZMGA guide manual as well as publishing six articles for The NZ Climber. She now blogs for CHILL and freelances for other outdoor publications in addition to consulting for various guide and work safe operations. Website: https://www.annakeelingguiding.co.nz/ Blog: https://annalouisek.wordpress.com/ A3 Donation: https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/AmericanAvalancheAssociation Music: Culturez by Shoalin Dub/www.ketsa.uk Production help from Cameron Griffin

I sat down with the authors and editor of the latest volume of The Snowy Torrents book. This book chronicles avalanche accidents that occurred in the US during the decade of 1986-1996. We discuss how the book can be used as a learning tool, highlight some accidents, and discuss how our way of looking at these accidents has evolved over time. Audience members contributed some great questions along the way. We hope you enjoy. Music by Ketsa Link to purchase the book: https://www.amazon.com/Snowy-Torrents-Avalanche-Accidents-1986-1996/dp/B0B7Q5QWQW

In Episode 7.9 of the Avalanche Hour podcast, Matthias Walcher and Paul Dobesberger from the Austrian Association for Snow and Avalanches talk to Walter Steinkogler, the COO of Wyssen Avalanche Control about avalanche mitigation strategies in Europe and North America. Also, Christoph Mitterer from the AWS Tyrol gives us the latest conditions report on snowpack and avalanche danger in the Alps. We hope you enjoy the show! Music: Change and Tussle by Ketsa. www.ketsa.uk

Upcoming Event- Live Podcast On Thursday December 15th 7PM MST by Caleb Merrill

Episode 7.8 features and interview with Patty Morrison. Patty has been a long time ski patroller, avalanche forecaster, and avalanche educator at Stevens Pass Ski Resort in Washington. We chat about Patty's path of her career in ski area avalanche forecasting. She explains some of the terrain, weather, and snowpack nuances of Steven's Pass and highlights some of her research on wind loading patterns at the resort. She reflects on the events of the high profile Tunnel Creek Avalanche and shares some wisdom for a newer generation of backcountry riders and up and coming ski patrollers. Music "Back When" and "Come Back" by Ketsa