Episode 2.2

In episode 2, we talk to IFMGA guide, avalanche educator, and writer Joe Stock about slowing down to make better decisions, learning from our mistakes, and managing uncertainty in avalanche terrain. Check out Joe's website at www.stockalpine.com to read his blogs, hire him as a guide, or buy his book, The Alaska Factor 2. We also hear an update from AIARE's executive director, Richard Bothwell regarding Pro courses for this winter.

Episode 2.3

In the third episode this season, we travel east of the Rockies. We chat with a snow ranger from Mt. Washington Avalanche Center in New Hampshire. Helon Hoffer grew up hiking and skiing in the White Mountains. He explains his journey to finding his job as a snow ranger and avalanche forecaster. We talk about the intricacies of micro scale forecasting for a busy- and windy zone.

Episode 2.4

In Episode 2.4, we hear from Scott Savage about a great project he is working on with the help of Bill Williamson and Ethan Greene. It is the long awaited unveiling of the Avalanche Near Miss database that will hopefully create a safer culture within the professional avalanche community. We then turn inward as we hear from Nancy Bockino of Jackson Hole, WY as she talks about embracing being human in the avalanche environment. Hope you enjoy!!

Episode 2.5

In episode 2.5 you will hear from Pete Gompert- a design engineer from Black Diamond and Craig Gordon- a forecaster from the Utah Avalanche Center. Pete talks about the Black Diamond Jet Force Airbag packs and how he helped to come up with the concept of using a fan to inflate an airbag pack. We then sit down with Craig to talk about his career within the professional avalanche arena. We especially highlight the work that Craig has done to help start and develop the Know Before You Go program, that has helped bring free avalanche education to thousands of people around the world. Enjoy! 

Episode 2.6

On December 19th, 2016 in the White Pine drainage of Little Cottonwood Canyon, UT, two friends triggered a large deep slab avalanche as the sun was setting on the far side of the Salt Lake Valley. Tune in as we interview survivors Jake Thelen and Sam Kapacinskas as they share their story of a very bad day in the backcountry.  This episode is broken in to two parts.  

Episode 2.7

This episode explores where you would fit into the new avalanche education paradigm. We sit down with Sarah Carpenter of The American Avalanche Institute as we discuss the history of AAI, what types of avalanche courses they offer, and how they recommend implementing a systems based approach to recreating in backcountry avalanche terrain.  We then discuss some scenarios to help find the right course for the right participant.  Sarah also explains the youth avalanche education program that AAI has helped implement in the Jackson Hole Middle and High School. 

In this episode, we sit down with Karl Birkeland. Karl is the director of the National Avalanche Center and adjunct professor for Montana State University's Snow Science program. Karl has found a balance as a researcher, educator, and practitioner. We talk to Karl about the history and evolution of snowpack tests, and he gives us some insight about where he thinks these tests might move in the future. Karl then shares some formative experiences that he has had with avalanches- that have helped shaped his career path. Enjoy!

Episode 2.9

In Episode 2.9, we sit down with Weston Deutschlander. Wes is holding on to the free heel tradition as he works as an avalanche educator and guide. We talk about a close call he had while cat ski guiding last year and process some of the factors that went into that day. Enjoy!

We chat with Mike Rheam, who is the head of the snow safety department at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and a forecaster for the Bridger Teton Avalanche Center. We chatted in November in the Avalanche Lab at JHMR while Mike highlighted some of the inner workings of the forecasting process for both the ski area and the backcountry. He talks about the variety of different avalanche mitigation tools available to his team, as well as shares some stories and advice to younger avalanche workers. We also chat with Jon Coppi from Black Diamond about some great PIEPS products. Hope you enjoy!

In our twelve episode of season 2, we talk to Michael Silitch of the BRASS Foundation. On January 5th, 2015, two members of the US Ski team were killed in an avalanche in Solden, Austria. The death of Bryce Astle and Ronnie Berlack hit the ski racing community very hard, and from this tragedy, the BRASS Foundation was formed to help bring avalanche education to ski racing programs . The Bryce and Ronnie Athlete Snow Safety Foundation is responsible for bringing high quality avalanche education to ski racing programs around the country. Michael is also an IFMGA certified guide, and shares some insight from his guiding career. Enjoy!