Ken Wylie, an IFMGA guide and human hazard management expert, shares his gripping personal story of surviving a tragic avalanche in 2003. He discusses the critical decision-making processes in hazardous situations and emphasizes the importance of resilience and personal growth. Wylie reflects on his journey of healing, the lessons learned from the experience, and the need for community engagement in the outdoor realm. He encourages guiding professionals to prioritize communication and integrity over achievement, fostering a culture of openness in high-stakes environments.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Miserable First Ski Day
Ken's brother gave him a miserable first nordic skiing experience.
His mother, a true adventurer, let them go despite the -20°C weather.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Guiding Journey's Start
Ken's guiding journey began at a YMCA camp in 1983, leading youth in wild places.
His Outward Bound career and post-secondary teaching experience furthered his apprenticeship.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Mentorship and Loss
Bill March, Ken's mentor, emphasized leadership and accountability.
March's transparency about his mistakes and untimely death taught Ken valuable lessons.
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The book is divided into two parts. The first part recounts Frankl's harrowing experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz, between 1942 and 1945. He describes the inhumane conditions and the psychological and emotional struggles of the prisoners. The second part introduces Frankl's theory of logotherapy, which posits that the primary human drive is the search for meaning, rather than pleasure. Frankl argues that meaning can be found through three main avenues: work (doing something significant), love (caring for another), and suffering (finding meaning in one's own suffering). The book emphasizes the importance of finding purpose and meaning in life, even in the most adverse conditions, as a key factor in survival and personal growth.
Buried
Buried
Ken Wylie
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
The Avalanche Hour Podcast 