Podcasts about utah avalanche center

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Kouri Richins murder trial delayed indefinitely, Summit County Manager Shayne Scott discusses the agenda for Wednesday's county council meeting, Heber Valley Chamber Executive Director Dallin Koecher and Park City School District whistleblower Ned Reilly and freelance reporter Michelle Deininger discuss last week's news that the district's Chief Operating Officer Mike Tanner's position is being eliminated.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast (3:24), Park City planners officially deny Yarrow redevelopment concept (5:34), Park City School District's Caleb Fine and Isaiah Folau talk about growing from PCSD students to principals of Park City High School and Ecker Hill Middle School (7:36), Park City Councilmember Ed Parigian has a recap of last night's meeting (20:52), KPCW staff on their Race Around The Mountain/Whole Enchilada skiing challenge (30:17), and Park City Chamber CEO Jennifer Wesselhoff discusses the departure of the Sundance Film Festival (34:58)

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Francis Best Western approved despite community protest, UDOT plan for Kimball Junction traffic focuses on adding lanes, Summit Pride, Park City show support for LGBTQ+ community after state seeks pride flag ban, Park City wants tunnel at Snow Creek Dr. as Yarrow returns to city planners, Youth Sports Alliance Executive Director Emily Fisher and Programs Director Heather Sims have an update on the youth sports programs, Hideout could use tax increment funding to develop Ross Creek, Public labor unions launch campaign to repeal law banning collective bargaining, Snyderville Basin Recreation Director Dana Jones has an update and DABS wants to build another liquor store in Park City.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Park City Mayor Nann Worel has a recap of last night's meeting, South Summit School District Superintendent Greg Maughan has an update from this month's board meeting, Verified signature count over halfway to Dakota Pacific referendum, Judd Efinger and Anneke Efinger, President and Vice President of the Love like Ky Foundation, have details on an upcoming fundraiser this Saturday, Local domestic violence shelters worry as lawmakers slash funding, Jim Siti from the nonprofit Operation Smile has details on their fundraising event at Deer Valley Saturday, Much loved 101-year-old Park City native passes away and Heber City begins work on new park.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Summit County Councilmember Chris Robinson recaps Wednesday's meeting, Swaner Nature Preserve and EcoCenter Director of Exhibits and Visitor Experience Hunter Klingensmith with details on the upcoming exhibit, Park City Council return to Snow Creek tunnel proposal, Park City Film Executive Director Katy Wang has a preview of upcoming screenings, Park City Opera performs at Jordanelle for St. Patrick's Day, Measles vaccination rate in Wasatch County below CDC recommendation and Assessor: Park City ski resort owners pushed for tax break during legislative session.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Deputy Summit County Manager Janna Young and Economic Dev. Director Jeff Jones preview the council's two meetings this week, the final 2025 Utah Legislative Report with KUER reporter Saige Miller and the People's Health Clinic Director of Operations Dalia Gonzalez has an update on the nonprofit.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Executive Director of Better Boundaries Katie Wright has an update on legislative issues affecting redistricting and filing initiatives in Utah and author Molly Bice-Jackson has details on the launch of her new book "The Commodity of Connection."

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Utah Legislative Report with KUER reporter Sean Higgins and Director of Utah Open Lands Wendy Fisher discusses recent grants and open space preservation projects.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Summit County Community Development Director Peter Barnes has an update on development projects throughout the county and Leadership Park City Director Scott van Hartesvelt discusses the upcoming Lessons in Leadership Public Safety Management lecture

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Heber City Manager Matt Brower previews Tuesday's city council meeting and Solider Hollow events manager Josh Korn has details on the Solider Hollow venue and upcoming junior nationals in March.

UAC's Toby Weed: Northern Utah avalanche danger very high -- Monte Cristo avalanche report -- Utah Senate President on federal funding freezes

January 15, 1939. It's finally working! After countless mechanical issues, the first operational ski lift in the state of Utah is taking people up the mountain so they can glide down its slopes. Skiing conditions are ideal in the town of Alta, and this lift will allow this relatively new sport to explode in popularity. But as beautiful as Alta is, there's also a looming threat... avalanches. Alta is in one of the most avalanche-prone areas in the entire country. It used to be a small mining town, and its residents have been dealing with avalanches for years, mourning their dead and rebuilding again and again. But now, with Alta becoming a haven for skiing, drastic measures will be needed to keep thousands of visitors safe. How did the Alta Ski Area become the testing ground for all things avalanche control? And how did rangers find their answer to the avalanche in a deadly weapon of war? Special thanks to Craig Gordon, avalanche forecaster with the U.S. Forest Service's Utah Avalanche Center; Andrea Huskinson, former Alta Ski Area communication manager; and Jonathan Morgan, assistant director of the Alta Avalanche Program. To stay updated: historythisweekpodcast.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Deputy Summit County Manager Janna Young takes a look back at the big issues of 2024, Wasatch County Sheriff's Office has arrested a man they say pulled the trigger in a deadly shooting at Jordanelle Reservoir in September, Park City School District Business Administrator Randy Upton and school board member Nick Hill have a look at the last year and what's ahead in 2025 and Park City Sustainability Manger Luke Cartin looks back at the strides made in 2024 and how the city is close to meeting its sustainability goals for 2030.

Solstice celebration on Saturday with local songwriters, Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Cheryl Fox discusses her newest book titled "Prophecy," a sequel to her first novel "Paradox," Park City Mayor Nann Worel has a recap of Thursday night's council meeting, Park City Mountain ski patrol union files unfair labor practice complaints against Vail, SLC International Airport Communications Director Nancy Volmer talks about holiday travel and new milestones for the airport and KPCW Digital Media Director Matt Sampson and Development Director Sarah Ervin announce the KPCW app redesign.

The latest Utah Avalanche Center forecast, January public hearing set for proposed West Hills town, Wasatch County Manager Dustin Grabau previews this week's county council meeting, Wasatch County school board to revise policies on employee conduct, bullying, hazing, Bryon Friedman and Wyatt Pike share details about the Solstice Concert at the Prospector Theater this Saturday, Recycle Utah Director Carolyn Wawra and Outreach Coordinator Chelsea Hafer share updates on their holiday hours, EV chargers may soon be required in Snyderville Basin and Basin Rec transitions to winter amid spotty snow, ice.

Steven Clark enjoyed the ideal skier's lifestyle as a young boy living at the mouth of the Cottonwood Canyons. Today, he's the avalanche safety program manager for the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). As skiers and riders wind their way up Little Cottonwood Canyon, one of the most avalanche-intensive sections of highway in the world, he's the one leading efforts to help keep us safe. Clark joined this episode of Last Chair from Snowbird to talk about innovative new technology that is helping to keep avalanche safety workers – and all of us on the highway – safe during winter storms.Many of us think about backcountry avalanche safety. Clark himself, when he was young, had the Utah Avalanche Center phone number posted on the family's home phone. But it's doubtful many of us think a lot about avalanches as we travel mountain highways every winter. We think about the plows that clear the roadway for us. But what's up above might be largely out of our minds as we wind up State Route 210 for eight miles towards Snowbird and Alta.In those eight miles from the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon up to Alta, there are 64 identified, named avalanche paths that can impact the highway. While the ski resorts all manage avalanche safety in their boundaries, it's up to UDOT to mitigate the danger on the highway. From howitzers to hand charges, UDOT avalanche safety teams work to keep all highways in the state safe for drivers and residents.For around 75 years military howitzers have played a pivotal role, lobbing shells across valleys to dislodge snowpack before it poses a danger to the highway. In 2007, UDOT began to look at alternatives to lobbing shells through the air. Today, howitzers are being phased out. As an example, in 2023 Alta retired its 105-mm cannon that had fired thousands of rounds of shells since being introduced in the 1950s by avalanche safety legend Monty Atwater.Replacing the howitzers is an array of remotely triggered devices installed on mountainside towers throughout the canyon. Towers from Wyssen Avalanche Control can be remotely activated to drop charges into the snow. Installations from GAZEX™ create a controlled explosion from which the concussive force triggers a slide. UDOT is using both systems, with new installations around Mount Superior will be in operation this season. There are now nearly 90 remotely-activated avalanche mitigation installations in the canyon between UDOT and the ski resorts. The new systems provide yet another level of public safety, eliminating the need to fire shells across the valley or to have avalanche safety workers conduct high-risk operations. In addition, UDOT employs a sophisticated array of avalanche sensors to analyze the snowpack and provide valuable feedback and updates.This episode of Last Chair provides some fascinating insights into the work done behind the scenes to keep us safe as we travel the Cottonwood Canyons to ski and ride. A well-known figure in the Utah snow safety community, Steven Clark is a great example of the dedication of the UDOT team that helps keep us safe.

Steven Clark enjoyed the ideal skier's lifestyle as a young boy living at the mouth of the Cottonwood Canyons. Today, he's the avalanche safety program manager for the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). As skiers and riders wind their way up Little Cottonwood Canyon, one of the most avalanche-intensive sections of highway in the world, he's the one leading efforts to help keep us safe. Clark joined this episode of Last Chair from Snowbird to talk about innovative new technology that is helping to keep avalanche safety workers – and all of us on the highway – safe during winter storms.Many of us think about backcountry avalanche safety. Clark himself, when he was young, had the Utah Avalanche Center phone number posted on the family's home phone. But it's doubtful many of us think a lot about avalanches as we travel mountain highways every winter. We think about the plows that clear the roadway for us. But what's up above might be largely out of our minds as we wind up State Route 210 for eight miles towards Snowbird and Alta.In those eight miles from the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon up to Alta, there are 64 identified, named avalanche paths that can impact the highway. While the ski resorts all manage avalanche safety in their boundaries, it's up to UDOT to mitigate the danger on the highway. From howitzers to hand charges, UDOT avalanche safety teams work to keep all highways in the state safe for drivers and residents.For around 75 years military howitzers have played a pivotal role, lobbing shells across valleys to dislodge snowpack before it poses a danger to the highway. In 2007, UDOT began to look at alternatives to lobbing shells through the air. Today, howitzers are being phased out. As an example, in 2023 Alta retired its 105-mm cannon that had fired thousands of rounds of shells since being introduced in the 1950s by avalanche safety legend Monty Atwater.Replacing the howitzers is an array of remotely triggered devices installed on mountainside towers throughout the canyon. Towers from Wyssen Avalanche Control can be remotely activated to drop charges into the snow. Installations from GAZEX™ create a controlled explosion from which the concussive force triggers a slide. UDOT is using both systems, with new installations around Mount Superior will be in operation this season. There are now nearly 90 remotely-activated avalanche mitigation installations in the canyon between UDOT and the ski resorts. The new systems provide yet another level of public safety, eliminating the need to fire shells across the valley or to have avalanche safety workers conduct high-risk operations. In addition, UDOT employs a sophisticated array of avalanche sensors to analyze the snowpack and provide valuable feedback and updates.This episode of Last Chair provides some fascinating insights into the work done behind the scenes to keep us safe as we travel the Cottonwood Canyons to ski and ride. A well-known figure in the Utah snow safety community, Steven Clark is a great example of the dedication of the UDOT team that helps keep us safe.

Utah Avalanche Center provides their latest forecast, Deer Valley opens 2024-2025 season a week earlier than planned to excited skiers, Park City Mountain ski patrol union launches petition as contract negotiations continue, outgoing State Rep. Brian King takes a look back at his legislative career and run for Governor, Heber City Manager Matt Brower previews Tuesday's city council meeting, Renee Hall and Jennie Floor share details on the Park City Treble Makers Holiday concerts, and Rick Brough and Destiny Grose preview the Lost Gems of Sundance Film Series.

Yesterday's storm left a fresh coat of snow up on Utah's mountains. Great news for people ready to hit the slopes this holiday. Joining me live is an avalanche forecaster with the Utah avalanche center... Nikki Champion.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Wasatch County residents can give budget feedback in December, Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter Director of Visitor Experience and Exhibits Hunter Klingensmith has details on the special exhibition ending this month and upcoming holiday art market, Park City Councilmember Ryan Dickey and Zion's Bank Public Finance Relations Manager Erik Daenitz discuss the Main Street Area Plan, Montage Deer Valley hotel manager Sean Casserly has details on a number of upcoming holiday events open to the public and Chris Lawing, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Pendry previews upcoming holiday events open to the public.

La Sal Mountains could see over 18 inches of snow as a storm passes through southeastern Utah all day Tuesday and into Wednesday morning. The Utah Avalanche Center warns backcountry skiers about early-season snow slide hazards. - Show Notes - https://utahavalanchecenter.org/forecast/moab

Utah Avalanche Center report, Public comment shows strong opposition to Deer Valley public financing request, Sara Sargent founder of Alpine Distilling on winning the 2024 Innovation Award, Western Regional Coordinator and Technical Program Manager for USA Luge Jon Owen has details on the upcoming season and some impressive recent results, Park City Chamber Bureau's Senior Director of Partner Services Scott House and Director of Communications Dan Howard have an update on the mountain kind card, Park City maintains statewide ranking in 2024 Municipal Equality

The latest trails report with Mountain Trails Foundation, first chain hotel coming to Kamas Valley has no building permit yet, Preserve Midway share details about this year's Volksmarch fundraiser, community honors Calvin Giles the last known World War II veteran in Heber Valley, man missing from upper Weber Canyon found on search's second day, Sunrise Rotary Club previews this year's Park City Shot Ski, Utah Olympics official wants to bring sports exhibition concept to 2034 Games, Park City photo club wins back-to-back "best in show" at Utah State Fair contest, Park City Film previews upcoming fall screenings, Utah Avalanche Center to host benefit party, applications open for Summit County recreation grants, time is running out to complete Summit County's "most important" health survey, Park City seeking local artists for new public art installations, and Park City Humanitarians to host 9/11 Day of Service.

Brain surgeon Dr. Theodore H. Schwartz explores the past, present and future of neurosurgery in his new book, "Gray Matters: A Biography of Brain Surgery." Then, Executive Director Emeritus Chad Brackelsberg highlights the Utah Avalanche Center's cutting-edge work and previews the 31st Annual Backcountry Benefit which takes place on Sept. 12.

  Emergency crews are responding to Little Cottonwood Canyon on a report of skiers trapped in an avalanche. Dave and Debbie break the story live as updates come through. According to officials, three skiers were involved in the avalanche and two remain unaccounted for. Search and rescue operations remain ongoing. Kevin Eubank from the KSL Weather Center breaks down the specific dangers of spring avalanches, Craig Gordan, Forecaster for the Utah Avalanche Center shares what is known so far. 

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Olympic officials see Utah's vision to ‘elevate' the 2034 Olympic Games, Utah Olympics lessons from 2002 to apply to 2034 with Myles Rademan as IOC tours state venues, Park City Councilmember Ed Parigian has a recap of last night's meeting, New study shows reading glasses have an economic impact and Matt Melville previews an upcoming lecture on his family's early history in Park City.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Olympic officials see Utah's vision to ‘elevate' the 2034 Olympic Games, Hope Alliance Executive Director Diane Bernhardt, Treasure Mountain Jr. High Principal Caleb Fine addresses harassment incidents and concerns in Park City schools and Executive Director of the Summit County Clubhouse Jen O'Brien has an update on membership and plans for the Rotary Club grant.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Heber Valley temple lawsuit decisions postponed to May, Summit County Sheriff Frank Smith and Chief Deputy Kacey Bates have an update on law enforcement issues, Park City Manager Matt Dias previews this week's city council meeting, Construction on I-80 in Parleys Canyon begins Friday and Heber Valley Chamber Public Relations Manager Jessica Turner has a look ahead at the events happening in the valley.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Solar eclipse wows Wasatch Back students, Summit County Solid Waste Superintendent Tim Loveday discusses the need for a new landfill, Park City planning director Rebecca Ward previews Tuesday's final meeting on the Bonanza Small Area plan and traffic study and Executive Director of Christian Center of Park City Rob Harter has an update on the services the organization offers.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Utah officials look back on 2002 Winter Olympics to prepare for 2034 Games, Summit County Health Department Deputy Director Kendra Babitz has a monthly update, Park City officials exploring new City Hall location, Youth Sports Alliance Executive Director Emily Fisher has an update on the youth sports programs, 10-hour outage to affect 1,000 residents from Silver Creek to Tollgate, Summit County libraries invite locals to participate in National Library Week celebrations, Park City billionaire files second lawsuit against neighbors, Park City Education Foundation Vice President of Advancement Jen Billow has an update on programs offered by the foundation and Utah may see e-bike regulation changes and interstate trail connections in the future.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Maple tapping boil down party celebrates syrup-making season, Tara McKee, Division of Outdoor Recreation's deputy director of grants and planning, discusses the first-ever Mountain West Trails Conference, Ameyalli resort plans move forward, with consolidated timeline, Park City Councilmember Tana Toly has a recap of last night's meeting, A community issue: bullying and harassment in Park City schools, Founder and President of Kids Play International Tracy Evans discusses today's event and St. Moritz now available for Ikon Pass holders.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Summit County Councilmember Roger Armstrong recaps Wednesday's meeting, Park City Sailing Junior Program Director and Head Coach Christian Koules discusses their Florida trip and upcoming season, Public arts board delays vote on roundabout structures to reconsider project height, Co-founder and President of Operation Smile Kathy Magee has details about this weekend's 12th annual Ski and Smile Challenge, No one injured after loud explosion at Lee's Marketplace in Heber, Park City athletes stack Red Bull Cascade podium and Utah Symphony at Deer Valley announces festival lineup.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Rewriting consent law gains momentum in Utah's legal community, Summit County Community Development Director Pat Putt has an update on development projects throughout the county, Delegates cast votes in Wasatch County GOP convention, Summit County Republican nominating convention draws crowd of about 200, Park City Manager Matt Dias previews this week's city council meeting and Executive Director Summit Community Gardens/EATS Helen Nadel and Gardens Director Melissa Soltesz have a look ahead at this year's growing season

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Salt Lake City man facing felony drug charges after arrest outside Kimball Junction bank, Wasatch County Manager Dustin Grabau has a preview of this week's county council meeting, Members of Park City Municipal Housing team Rhoda Stauffer and Browne Sebright discuss the city's Lite Deed program and how residents can ensure some houses stay affordable for the long term, South Summit High deemed safe, armed man acting 'erratically' in custody, Child falls off Orange Bubble lift at Park City Mountain, Hundreds of thousands of dollars available for child care assistance, Director of Summit Land Conservancy Cheryl Fox discusses open space issues, Heber City Council to consider 230 workforce housing units near Wasatch High School, Savor the Summit is on for this summer, How to join this year's Citizens Police Academy and Park City building two new trailheads near McPolin barn.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, UDOT: Need for Heber bypass is clear, timeline is not, PCPD Officer Terry Knechtel has details on how to join this year's Citizens Police Academy, Better Boundaries Executive Director Katie Wright has an update on the gerrymandering lawsuit and the work at the state legislature this session and Holy Cross Ministries Health Outreach Manager Carlos Flores and Executive Director Emmie Gardner discuss the needs and hurdles that immigrants are facing and how their lives could change after this year's presidential election.

Dave Kelly's career on snow has included stints forecasting for a remote narrow-gauge, trans-national railroad on behalf of the Alaska DOT. He's also put in time at Turoa, one of the largest ski areas in New Zealand. And for 16 years, he worked as a ski patroller at Alta. He joined the Utah Avalanche Center in the 2022-23 season as a forecaster for the Salt Lake area. And he says it was the challenge of forecasting for bigger terrain that drew him to his new gig. Kelly joins us to talk about making the transition from an operational forecaster to a public one. And we also try to wrap our heads around the mysteries of radiation recrystallization.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Deer Valley project critic praises changes to plan, Marcie Young Cancio with Utah College Media Collaborative on Amplify UT and the importance of understanding misinformation, Heber planning commission recommends approval for new day care, Amy Ladd previews today's Backcountry Bow Wow Park City Ski Patrol and Wasatch Backcountry Rescue fundraiser, Greyhound buses add stop in Kimball Junction, Park City Gallery Stroll features new works and new locations, Former Park City Council candidate appointed to Basin planning commission, Summit County sees increase in counterfeit cash, Kouri Richins returns to court for alleged probation violation, New Mountainlands director named as Park City approaches affordable housing goal and Woodward President and 43I Boardmemeber Chris ‘Gunny' Gunnarson discusses the Ken Block Party fundraiser on April 3.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Canyons Village garage secures planning commission recommendation, Summit County Councilmember Roger Armstrong recaps Wednesday's meeting, Deer Valley CEO Todd Bennett and Vice President of Resort Planning Hannah Tyler recap the changes made to the Snow Park plans and what's next, Park City Gallery Association members Megan McIntire and Katerina Cicalese with Summit Gallery talk about this month's gallery stroll on Friday night, Local authors publish book offering new perspective on leadership and Park City MARC tennis bubble closes for the season.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Major Main Street closures begin Monday for water line project, High Valley Transit District Board Member Kim Carson details some of the changes coming to High Valley Transit, Park City Housing Development Manager Jason Glidden discusses his move to serve as Executive Director of Mountainlands Community Housing Trust and Jennifer Mulholland on her new book "Leading with Light" and Thursday's signing event.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Kouri Richins faces new attempted homicide, financial charges, Summit County Manager Shayne Scott discusses the agenda for Wednesday's county council meeting, Historic Park City Alliance Executive Director Ginger Wicks and Utility Engineer Lloyd Griffin have details about the Main St. water line replacement that starts on Monday, Park City Community Foundation Equity and Access Manager José Chacón, and VP of Equity & Impact discuss the Diego Zegarra discuss the merger of two sports and recreation programs under one new name and Heber approves zoning changes for heart of downtown.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Park City School District prioritizes student safety with gun detection software, US Ski & Snowboard CEO Sophie Goldschmidt with a season recap, Kimball Art Center board members Mary Bourke and Heather Peteroy along with Executive Director Aldy Milliken have details on the opening of the new exhibit and the upcoming Art Soiree and Park City Chamber Bureau CEO Jennifer Wesselhoff has a monthly update.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Federal investigation finds over 180 harassment incidents in Park City School District, parents disappointed with communication, Gov. Cox calls Olympics a ‘smart investment,' hopes to become part of rotation, 30 creators to exhibit works at Park City local artist marketplace, ‘Walk and Talk with CJ' celebrates community and inclusion, Vail Resorts: Epic Pass holders have nearly doubled since pandemic, Heber residents hang new Pride flags as police progress stalls in vandalism investigation, Park City Board of Realtors CEO Jamie Johnson on implications of the National Association of Realtors settlement, Olympics update, transportation projects headline Park City-Summit County meeting, Salt Lake Tribune's Lauren Gustus has an update on the stories they are covering and Wasatch County Sheriff's Office employee arrested for alleged sex crimes involving a minor.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Park City orders study to examine stability of China Bridge garage, Summit County Councilmember Canice Harte recaps Wednesday's meeting, PC Board of Education member Andrew Caplan discusses OCR agreement and Park City Film Executive Director Katy Wang has a preview of upcoming screenings.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Mountain town leaders talk post-COVID era, deed-restricted burgers, Artists William Kranstover, Kimberley Gray, and Bob Peek have details about the return of "Who's Art?," Park City Mountain extends ski season (15:54), Sundance Film Festival unveils 2025 dates (16:47), The first in the PC Board of Realtors Speaker Series Tim Weisheyer discussing "Dealing with Difficult People while Communicating with Tact and Professionalism," Neighbors appeal approval of Park City billionaire's home, People's Health Clinic gifted $1 million grant to extend hours, Park City Artists Association member Karen Kendall and Kelly Gallagher have details about this weekend's art gathering, Alf Engen Ski Museum Foundation names new executive director, No ‘immediate threat' Park City will lose theaters, bankruptcy attorney says, Train, controlled burn each spark brush fires in north Summit County, New hotel and luxury lodge approved for Deer Valley East Village base and Summit County receives two awards for waterway conservation.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Developer offers to partner with Park City on affordable housing at Richardson Flat, Wasatch County Manager Dustin Grabau with a preview of this week's county council meeting, Victims of radon gas Bill Johnson and Connie Alexakos talk about how undetected radon in their homes caused lung cancer and how they're raising awareness statewide and KUER reporter Saige Miller recaps this year's session and how an election year makes it a bit different.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, How liquor, film and transient room tax legislation will affect Wasatch Back, Heber City Manager Matt Brower, Vail Resorts denies fault in lawsuit after girl fell 30 feet at Park City Mountain, Youth Sports Alliance Programs Director Heather Sims and Development, Events & Sponsorships Ashley Laakso with an update on the youth sports programs, Learner-driven Acton Academy coming to Park City, Snyderville Basin Recreation Director Dana Jones has a monthly update, Rockstar energy drinks founder relists Colony mansion for $52 mil, Park City Leadership forum will feature activists, thinkers from sister communities, U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame to honor new members in Heber, Park City Chamber forecasts strong end to ski season and Heber Valley Chamber reports 3% increase in winter tourism.

Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Wasatch County weighs creating public comment policy after Midway meeting hate speech incident, Park City area residents asked for input on e-bike rules, Utah snowpack above normal this season, helping reservoirs and reducing wildfire risk, South Summit School District Superintendent Greg Maughan has an update from this month's board meeting, Park City Councilmember Jeremy Rubell recaps last night's meeting, Justin Koski, Executive Director of US Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame, discusses the 2023 inductees and history, Park City senior center now open four days a week and Olympic officials to visit Wasatch Back in April ahead of summer vote.

Dr. Patrick Fink joins us on Episode 11 of The High Route Podcast. Fink is an ER physician in Bend, Oregon, involved with the local and broader Wilderness Medicine community. He hosts Wilderness Medicine Updates—"a podcast for those interested in wilderness medicine, search and rescue, disaster and austere medicine, and ski patrol medicine." Fink also has a site titled Mountain Lessons, where he shares valuable information about his travels and best practices. All this is to say that Fink comes to the podcasts with some expertise. One aspect of backcountry travel he has thought a lot about is avalanche airbags. Fink presented some research at the 2023 ISSW, which got us talking about airbags, airbag adoption, and efficacy. A solid podcast on Avalanche Airbags comes from the Utah Avalanche Center. You can find the podcast here. As noted in the podcast intro, I first engaged with Fink when I moderated a comment at my last place of employment. Cutting to the chase, Fink and I spoke on the phone (it's always better to have a conversation to get the complete picture), and now we are friends. BTW—his moderated comment had nothing to do with airbags. On to the show.Thanks for listening.    Find us at the-high-route.com. Yeah, there are two hyphens for redundancy, which is a good policy in the mountains. For weight weenies, hyphens weigh next to nothing. We are a reader supported website with free podcasts. Our podcasts are not free to produce or store on a server. If you are enjoying the podcasts, please consider supporting The High Route, you can find subscription information here. The theme music for The High Route Podcast comes from Storms in the Hill Country and the album The Self Transforming (Thank you, Jens Langsjoen). You can find a link to the album here—there are so many good songs on this album. And if you think you've spotted a UFO in the past or visited the 7th dimension, "Beautiful Alien" is a good tune to start with.

Heavy snowfall and strong winds this week have joined forces for some heightened avalanche danger

The Christmas blizzard of 2003 still ranks as one of the biggest winter storms in Utah's history – legendary enough to have its own Wikipedia page. It dumped four feet of snow in the valley and upwards of twice that in the mountains, closing resorts. But it also brought tragedy. On Dec. 26, 2003 an entire mountainside of snow broke off the flanks of Mt. Timpanogos, roaring down out of the clouds towards a dozen skiers, riders, hikers, and snowshoers. Five were buried, with three not making it home that evening.Just three years into his forecaster career with the Utah Avalanche Center, skier Craig Gordon was deeply troubled by what he had seen. The victims simply didn't know that their playground for the day, just above the Aspen Grove trailhead, was in a massive avalanche run out. So he decided to do something about it, creating the now ubiquitous educational program Know Before You Go.What Gordon and others realized was that we all live amidst snow-filled mountains, but there was no way to get the message of snow safety to youth and teens. In its first season, Know Before You Go reached over 10,000 students in local middle and high schools across Utah. Today, it's the staple introductory snow safety program not just in Utah but across the nation and even the world.It's just one of the many programs Utah Avalanche Center manages to help keep us safe. Whether you're an avid backcountry enthusiast or limit yourself to in-bounds action, UAC has education and information to help keep you safe.A New Jersey native who found his way out to Utah to attend college and soon found himself working in snow safety at Brighton and as a heli-ski guide. He joined UAC in 2000. Today, he's part of a deeply experienced team and is known around the state as the guy who makes avalanche safety education fun.This episode of Last Chair is quintessential Craig Gordon – complete with stories, humor and emotion. Dig in … it's a fun one! Here's just a sampling.Craig, how do you view the services that Utah Avalanche Center offers?We're best known for our forecasting – we're your one-stop shop, Utah Avalanche Center.org. But forecasting is just a segment of education. And to me, really, the forecasts are an educational tool. Any time I have the opportunity to share knowledge and to throw an anecdote or two and maybe throw some institutional knowledge and wisdom in, along with some tongue-in-cheek humor, yeah, now, this is sort of where the rubber hits the road. To me, it's all about education. And the more well-informed our user public is, the more they can get out of the Utah Avalanche Center forecast. The forecast is really designed in sort of a tiered approach, from beginner to intermediate, novice to expert to uber expert. You can gain something out of reading the forecast day-to-day and reading it each day. You get to know the characters in the snowpack. And you know, the last thing you want to do is open up the middle of this book, this novel and try to figure out who the characters are. So I always advise people, even on the days that you're not planning on going out, definitely take heed, check out the forecast, and see what the snow is doing. And then, when you do get a day off, or you're making your travel plans, you'll be that much better informed. So, really, to me, education is where the rubber hits the road. For us, that's the big ticket item. And that is not only in our forecasts, that is in our outreach and our classes, our backcountry 101, our basic avalanche classes, our rescue classes. It all revolves around education.The Christmas storm of 2003 brought snow, but it also brought tragedy.Yeah, oh my gosh, that time frame right around Christmas of 2003 brought an epic storm by all standards – historic storm rolls bigger than last year. As a matter of fact, this the Christmas storm of 2003 has its own Wikipedia reference. The storm rolls in right before Christmas and just blasts the Salt Lake Valley, Provo, Ogden. There are 30 inches of snow in downtown Salt Lake, several hundred thousand people are without power. I remember it's all I can do to get to the foothills to go skiing. It is complete mayhem just to go a mile or two. So there were three groups that had been riding at Sundance inside the ski resort boundary. The resort closes down, and these three individual groups – they don't even know each other – they ride up the road, and they're at the Aspen Grove trailhead, which is underneath one of the largest avalanche paths in Utah that funnels off Mount Timpanogos. Of course, you're going to go hike for the freshies, right? And no one's wearing avalanche transceivers, no shovels, no probes, none of the appropriate rescue gear. And as three separate groups are hiking up, one natural avalanche peels off from about 3,000 plus vertical feet above off the ridge in the clouds. So everything is just is just chaos as one slide, then sympathetically triggers two others. And now, instead of having just one football field, you have several football fields of snow crashing down from up above. I know even 20 years later, it's still emotional. But you chose to do something about it?It was so glaringly apparent how dangerous the conditions were. And again, just trying to move around in the valley, it's like it's all I can do to get to the mountains. So I'm going to the mountains on its terms, and it doesn't even want me there, you know. So this is not, you know, kind of a soft, fuzzy kind of place to be right now. It's very harsh. It's very wicked. That night, I looked my wife in the eye, and I said, ‘I am going to do everything in my power that not another family, not another partner, not another parent has to experience the tragedy of what could be a preventable avalanche accident.'I said, ‘Well, I am going to create a program where we go talk to kids in schools and middle schools and high schools.' (My boss Bruce Tremper) says, ‘You put it together, you find the money, and it's yours.' And I thought, ‘Man, you just challenged a go-getter overachiever who grew up in New Jersey. Man, I got this. At the time, nothing like this existed. There was nothing that was fun, that had energy to it, and that could resonate with teens.What was the reception like when you launched Know Before You Go into Utah schools?One of our very first talks was in front of 1,600 kids. And it was remarkable. It wasn't like some soft rollout. It was like you hit the ground running with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and the Rolling Stones, and here we go, you know? And man, for that kind of crowd you had to have a touchpoint with everybody in the audience. And that meant giving out a thousand times the energy that was coming back. That was the secret of the success of the program. Did you reach a lot of kids with KBYG?In our first year, I thought, man, if we could reach 5,000 kids, that would be remarkable. And the first year the thing took off like a rocket. We talked to 12,000 kids, and in the second year, we talked to 18,000 kids. By the start of the third year, we were able to get Know Before You Go embedded as an elective in health and phys ed in middle schools. And then everybody started coming on board. The Park City schools were awesome to get us embedded early on. The snowbelt community schools knew that this was very important.