Dear Fellow Aficionados of the backcountry:

My career as an avalanche forecaster at the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center is coming to a close. After a 29-year run (24 as the director)...

I worked with Jerry at CAIC. I taught snowplow driver avalanche schools in Silverton. I always enjoyed getting to talk and work with Jerry. He was a true wealth of knowledge, about snow/avy and life..

It should also be mentioned that on March 31st of 1984, two years after the Alpine Meadows avalanche accident. Three ski patrollers at Aspen Highlands died in an avalanche, while doing control work...

I don't want to look that far back. There were times my Guardian Angel worked overtime.

Too bad there isn't a ski area near by.....

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2yq-ARribv/?igsh=Y2YwdDRybHI4ejI2

Too bad there isn't a ski area near by.....

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2yq-ARribv/?igsh=Y2YwdDRybHI4ejI2

Sorry to hear this...

Sorry to hear this...

https://denvergazette.com/outtherecolorado/news/total-of-six-people-caught-in-three-separate-avalanches-in-24-hours-in-colorado/article_6b64f85a-bee7-11ee-9975-0b82b2eca019.html?utm_source=Master&utm_...

https://denvergazette.com/outtherecolorado/news/2-men-rescued-and-1-believed-dead-after-avalanche-hits-idaho-back-country/article_1e237840-b178-11ee-97b3-cbdcdec78ec6.html?utm_source=Master&utm_campai...

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/two-killed-avalanche-hiker-also-31766373

Just for reference. From Heliskihistory.com

The daily vertical heliskiing record in a private A-Star helicopter is 353,600 vertical feet. It was set in 1998 by Dominique Perret, Robert Reindl,...

I use a Ortovox bigger (the better) metal shovel. I like the "T" handle.

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I can't tell you how many guys have said this at Wiegele's. Thousands have said it.

Ski area, Strip clubs and Prime rib. What a wonderful combo!! Obviously, Vail resorts hasn't thought of this......

I once ran into some guys at the top of Loveland Pass while handing out CAIC brochures that told me, "Knox rocks!"478422

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CAIC staff 2002

https://denvergazette.com/outtherecolorado/premium/50-years-avalanche-forecasting-co/article_0e4f01b0-ce84-59a0-acee-60d001367024.html?utm_source=Master&utm_campaign=f015182160-Daily+Newsletter_COPY_0...

A long time ago, I heard that snow-making was listed in the top 20 "most dangerous jobs." I'm not sure if it still is. Very sad.

A3 HONORS BURIED
The American Avalanche Association (A3) recently honored us (Steven Siig and Jared Drake) with the Sue Ferguson Award at their awards ceremony in Bend, Oregon on October 11. The Sue...

https://denvergazette.com/outtherecolorado/news/animal-blamed-for-triggering-large-avalanche-in-colorado/article_6ee35290-7cc2-11ee-af78-4bbf424f4ea0.html?utm_source=Master&utm_campaign=8083cedc71-Dai...

It was interesting that at ISSW, Pieps and Black Diamond were not displaying. The only transceiver companies were BCA, Mammut and Ortovox.

Mike, will we get to see this at ISSW?

Looking forward to first issue of TAR and ISSW. Interesting cover photo.

I told a colleague about this posting. He has intimate knowledge of both courses, as he has taught both AIARE and AST1 courses. He is what he sent me.

From the respective web sites
At the end of...

It only makes sense.

That is changing. A lot of heliski operations now require guests to ware a small day pack with a shovel and probe in it.

Great question. I've always thought a strip club next door to a heliski opperation would be an award winner. Good prime rib on top of that would be outstanding.

Skadi Man: John Lawton, inventor of the avalanche transceiver | Skiing History
...

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https://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/local-news/46950-skier-dies-after-getting-caught-in-avalanche-on-hurd-peak-in-inyo-county-second-skier-attempted-rescue

...

Oh come on Randy!! You'll be missed...

The final accident repot.

https://classic.avalanche.state.co.us/caic/acc/acc_report.php?acc_id=848&accfm=inv

June 15th the price goes up. Better do it soon.

Who's going to ISSW 2023?

Yeah, like a 105 howitzer (he says sarcastically......).;)

Bunion!! You must have missed the article in the Avalanche Review (40.1 page 54) by David Sly of the Maple Leaf Powder Company; about their Sentinel 6000 drone. It can carry and deliver 6kg...

This is a sad accident for me. I didn't know the victims, but I did climb the Moose's Tooth West ridge in 1979. I have the feeling I know about where in the slanted couloir the avalanche started....

On Instagram they also mention the close call on Quandry.

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2023/04/19/body-found-buried-day-after/

Suprised that this hasn't already been posted...


https://unofficialnetworks.com/2023/04/17/loveland-ski-patrol-unionize/?fbclid=IwAR2_9TmEc0kQ38z2oWK9mcCJ2lXdeyA2hq7TNYTcf2qtE8BSs7iNINPtM3I

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You can get one of these helmets at Home Depot for less then $30.00.:rolleyes2

I mainly use the transceiver harness that it came with.

But, when teaching a class, I do say that if your going to put your transceiver in a pocket. Make it a pocket that even a Paris pickpocket...

The ariel antenna that Flight for Life uses for RECCO and transceiver signals are too big for most drones. But I have heard that there are folks working to make antennas smaller for drone use. The...

When I worked at CAIC we would always tell folks to report any avalanches that they triggered to CAIC and the local sheriff. Reporting them to the sheriff means there won't be cases of where the S&R...

But, we'll see if this one ends up in court.

Need photos....

https://www.vaildaily.com/news/low-elevation-snow-stacks-up-this-season/

So do you know where "Munchkin Alley" and "Dorothy's Box," are?