The Doctor is In: Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg

5 snips

Mar 15, 2025

Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg, an American physician and wilderness medicine expert, shares his extensive knowledge on avalanche safety and technology. He discusses the evolution of avalanche airbags, highlighting their life-saving potential and the importance of hands-on training. The impact of safety gear on skiers' risk tolerance is examined, along with advanced devices enhancing mountain rescue operations. Lastly, Van Tilburg emphasizes the critical post-excavation care for avalanche victims, ensuring effective rescue and recovery.

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INSIGHT

Airbag Efficacy

Avalanche airbags significantly reduce mortality and morbidity.
Studies suggest they decrease the chance of death by about 50%, similar to avalanche transceivers.

ADVICE

Airbags vs. Transceivers

Consider avalanche airbags as essential as transceivers for backcountry safety.
Airbags prevent burial, while transceivers are used after a burial.

ANECDOTE

Goggles as Lifesaver

Two skiers, caught in an avalanche without safety gear, were found 20 hours later.
One died instantly, while the other survived due to goggles creating an air pocket, highlighting the importance of airway management.

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In this episode, Caleb sits down with Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg of Hood River, Oregon. Van Tilburg is an American physician and author specializing in emergency, wilderness, travel, environmental, occupational, and public health medicine. He is author of 11 books on outdoor recreation, wilderness medicine, and international travel, including three memoirs on mountain rescue, including Crisis on Mount Hood: Stories from 100 years of Mountain Rescue, forthcoming May 2025Van Tilburg is on staff at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital in Hood River, Oregon, USA where he works at Occupational and Travel Medicine, in the Emergency Department, and at the Providence Mountain Clinic at Mount Hood Meadows Ski Resort. In addition, he works as a physician on expeditions around the world, on cruise ships, on humanitarian medical relief programs, and as an expert witness on wilderness medicine. He is also a mountain rescue doctor with Hood River Crag Rats, the oldest mountain rescue team in the United States, established in 1926 in Hood River, Oregon, USA. He is medical director for four search and rescue teams: Hood River Crag Rats, Pacific Northwest SAR, Clackamas County SAR and Portland Mountain Rescue. He serves as Public Health Officer in Oregon for Hood River County. He serves as Medical Examiner for Hood River, Gilliam, Sherman, Wasco, and Wheeler Counties in Oregon. Dr. Van Tilburg has been honored three times by the Wilderness Medical Society. He received Dian Simpkins Award for Service, the Haiti Humanitarian Research Award, and the Ice Axe Award for Service. His book ''Mountain Rescue Doctor: Wilderness Medicine in the Extremes of Nature'' was shortlisted for Banff Festival of Mountain Books and Oregon Book Awards in 2007 and was Readers Digest Editor’s Pick for November 2007. His book ''Adrenaline Junkie’s Bucket List: 100 Extreme Adventures to Do Before You Die'' received the Far West Ski Association Bill Berry Award for outstanding printed media in 2014Van Tilburg was the lead author for ''Wilderness Medical Society Practice Guidelines for Prevention and Management of Avalanche and Nonavalanche Snow Burial Accidents,'' a multinational effort published in 2017 and updated in 2024.

We discuss some of the salient points of CVT's research, lessons delivered through many SAR calls, and current best practices for avalanche victim post-extrication care.

We hope you enjoy.

Music: Ketsa

Artwork: Mike Tea

Links to more of Van Tilburg's work