Episode Overview

In this first part of a two-episode series, The Avalanche Hour Podcast features an in-depth conversation with avalanche industry legends Chris Stethem and Grant Statham. These two have dedicated their lives to advancing avalanche safety, education, and research, and their collective impact has shaped how we think about risk management in snow-covered terrain.

The episode begins with the Granduc Mine Avalanche incident in Canada, a pivotal event that underscored the critical need for better risk assessment and communication systems. From there, Chris and Grant explore the origins of avalanche safety practices during the early “cowboy” days, where trial and error led to life-saving lessons.

Listeners will also hear about:

• Defining avalanche scales and aspects to improve communication and ensure messages reach diverse audiences effectively.

• The snowpack evolution of the 1976-77 winter, where facets became prominent, and the impacts of climate change began to show.

• A terrifying near-miss at a FIS ski race, where an avalanche ran into coaches, illustrating the gaps in early avalanche response planning.

• The development and introduction of avalanche beacons, from professional use to their eventual adoption by recreational users.

• Spatial planning for avalanche paths, with lessons drawn from Utah’s structural defenses and how they informed better land-use decisions.

Chris and Grant also reflect on how communication methods have evolved over time, emphasizing the importance of tailoring messages to the audience—whether professionals or recreational backcountry travelers—to ensure safety in avalanche terrain.

This episode sets the stage for an enlightening second part, where they’ll dive deeper into modern advancements, risk management techniques, and more.