The Avalanche Hour Podcast

In the first episode of Season 10, Dom Baker sits down with Kirk Mauthner. Kirk shares his journey from a childhood in the Columbia Valley to becoming an accomplished mountain guide and rescue expert. He discusses the influences that shaped his passion for mountaineering, the challenges he faced in his career, and the importance of safety and communication in rescue operations. Kirk also reflects on his innovative contributions to rescue equipment and shares memorable adventures in remote locations, including the Wall of Walls project with Will Gadd. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes the significance of learning from experiences and the joy of exploring the mountains.Kirk grew up in the mountains and learned about risk and consequence at a young age, under the tutelage of his neighbour, the legendary Arnor Larson.A lifetime spent working with SAR groups on technical rope and mountain rescue, combined with a design sense and engineering background, led Kirk to develop many of the tools and techniques used in rope rescue today.  Kirk shares lessons learned during a career guiding and adventuring in far-flung places.Stay tuned to the end of the interview for Kirk's thoughts on lightweight rope kits for ski mountaineering and crevasse rescue!Thanks to the sponsors of the show: Legacy Level Sponsors: Darren Johnson Avalanche Education Memorial FundAVSSDrone AmplifiedPartner Level Sponsors: CIL AvalancheSafeback onX Backcountry Episode Sponsor: Peak Visor 50% off CodeMusic: KetsaArtwork: Mike TeaProduction: Bob Keating

Tune in to hear what we have in store for Season 10 of The Avalanche Hour Podcast . This podcast is made possible through industry support: Thank you to the Darren Johnson Avalanche Education Memorial Fund, AVSS, Drone Amplified, CIL Avalanche, Safeback, and onX Backcountry.

The story goes that a young Lynne Wolfe persuaded Blase Reardon to get involved as The Avalanche Review's Assistant Editor many years ago. Lynne would go on to be the Editor of TAR for decades to come, bringing the publication and our community forward towards professional collaboration. In this episode, Brooke Maushund chats with Lynne as she celebrates publishing her final issue as TAR Editor and gets ready to pass the baton. In addition to being a longtime avalanche educator and Exum guide, Lynne is a charismatic connector in our industry: bringing people, ideas, and curiosities together. With the job listing up at the time of this recording, we dive into Lynne’s time working behind the scenes on A3’s flagship publication. From changes to the nuts and bolts behind TAR, to lessons learned along the way, Lynne gives us an inside scoop on what it’s been like to put out a staple that can be found on every snow pro’s desk, coffee table, or…yes, even on the back of their toilets. As the search for the new TAR Editor continues, she tells us what she’d like that person to know: “Stand on my shoulders—I’ll help.” If you want to hear more about Lynne’s illustrious career in addition to her work on The Avalanche Review, go back to Season 2, Episode 11 of the podcast when Lynne came on the show for the first time.Resources & Links Mentioned: The Avalanche Review (TAR) Informational Webpage: Digital The Avalanche Review The Ascending Spiral by Ed LaChapelleSubscribe to TAR by Becoming an A3 Member • The Avalanche Hour Podcast 2.11: Lynne Wolfe • Seeking Impeccability with Lynne Wolfe: Episode of The High Route Podcast Crew: • Host: Brooke Maushund (@brookemaush) • Guest: (The one and only) Lynne Wolfe  • Producer: Caleb Merrill (@theavalanchehourpodcast)Sponsors:Wyssen Avalanche Control • Gordini • PeakVisor (click here for a discount!) • OpenSnow🎶 Music by Ketsa: See Us, Sun Cometh

🎧 Episode Summary:Spring is here, and with the avy-ed season wrapped up in Colorado, Jason sits down with renowned mountain guide and educator Mark Smiley to talk about his journey from the Midwest to the highest peaks, and his efforts to reshape mountain education.Mark shares how his early experiences with Boy Scouts and road trips planted the seed for a lifetime of mountain exploration, and how a lack of mentorship early on drove him to build Mountain Sense—a platform designed to break down the barriers to learning essential mountain skills.Together, they dive into:Mark’s path to becoming an IFMGA guide (including passing his ski exam before ever being paid to guide on skis!)Why he created Mountain Sense and what it means to “become the partner you seek”The cultural differences between ski touring and climbing communities around risk and educationHow online learning can supplement in-person avalanche educationHuman factors, mentorship, and building trust in backcountry teamsWhy storytelling, humor, and real-life experience matter more than PowerPoint slidesMark also shares a recent near-miss avalanche incident in Canada and reflects on the decision-making traps that even seasoned professionals encounter.Learn more about Mark’s courses at Mountain SenseFollow Mark Smiley on Instagram: @smileysprojectReady to become the partner you seek? Visit Mountain Sense to explore online masterclasses on avalanche safety, ski mountaineering, crevasse rescue, alpine climbing, and more.Host - Jason Antin @alpenglowmountainguidesProducer- Caleb merrill Sponsors for this episode:Wyssen Gordini OpenSnow PeakVisor (discount in link)

In this knowledge-packed episode, Brooke Maushund sits down with Janet Kellam, who received the American Avalanche Association Bernie Kingery Award for lifetime achievement at ISSW in 2023 after serving as the former Director of the Sawtooth Avalanche Center, President of the American Avalanche Association's board, and being involved in the early days of the USFS National Avalanche Center. She was also the first woman licensed ski guide in Idaho, the first woman president of A3, and the first woman director of an avalanche center.Janet doesn’t just have decades of experience—she gained expertise in niche corners of the snow industry across the globe. From work as a winter specialist on a 1990 documentary film sailing to and spending 6 weeks skiing on the rarely visited Antarctica peninsula, to being a licensed backcountry and heli ski guide, Janet didn’t leave much idle time in her career. In this episode, Janet shares nuggets of knowledge from her more than 36 year career in the avalanche industry, her remaining curiosities about avalanche mechanics, where she sees the industry going next…but most importantly, she tells us how she kept her sense of wonder about the snow over the years: always, always taking care of others. Resources & Links Mentioned: • ISSW 2012 Paper: The Urban Avalanche Interface and Community Impacts a Case Study: Ketchum, Sun Valley & the Wood River Valley, Idaho • Avalanche Education for All, High Country News Article• USFS National Avalanche Center • National Avalanche School • Sawtooth Avalanche Center • American Avalanche Association Resilience Project • Responder AllianceCrew: • Host: Brooke Maushund (@brookemaush) • Guest: Janet Kellam  • Producer: Caleb Merrill (@theavalanchehourpodcast)Sponsors:Wyssen Avalanche Control GordiniOpenSnowPeakVisor🎶 Music by Ketsa: Get Me Out, Snowing in Spring, Reach the End

In this episode, Dom Baker sits down with the legendary mountain athlete Will Gadd, a pioneering ice climber, paddler and paraglider.  Will has established some of the hardest mixed ice climbing lines in the world, set the world distance record for paragliding, and then beaten it, kayaked down dozens of first descents across North America, not to mention soloed the first one- day ascent of Canada’s Mt.Robson.  Will has rigorously prepared for and completed high complexity adventures all over the world and in the process has developed a thoughtful perspective on risk, writing and talking about risk for years, including in a 2016 Ted Talk.  In this episode Will discusses his perspectives on exposure, consequence and how the public avalanche bulletin might not quite apply to ice climbing routes. Resources, Books & Links Mentioned:www.willgadd.com Tedx Talk VideoDunning-Kruger effectImpossible Dreams: Remote paragliding and climbing in Canada!Todd Conklin “The 5 Principles of Human Performance”Daniel Kahneman “Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment”Amy Edmondson “ Emotional Intelligence: Psychological Safety”Annie Duke “Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All The Facts”Crew: • Host: Dom Baker (@dom_baken)  • Guest: Will Gadd (@realwillgadd)  • Producer: Caleb Merrill (@theavalanchehourpodcast)Sponsors: • Wyssen Avalanche Control  • Gordini • OpenSnow • Peak Visor ***Special Offer***🎶 Music by Gravy @gravy.tunes 

European Hosts Matthias Walcher and Christoph Mitterer bring you a conversation with Fabiano Monti. Fabi is an Avalanche Forecaster, Ski Instructor, and Environmental Scientist based in Livigno, Italy. He holds a Master's degree and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of Insubria, with specialized research conducted at the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) in Switzerland. His doctoral research focused on modeling snowpack stability for avalanche forecasting.In 2013, Fabiano founded Alpsolut Srl, an innovative company dedicated to providing scientific solutions for managing snow-related risks. Under his leadership, Alpsolut has developed operational snow cover simulations using the SNOWPACK model, widely adopted by European avalanche centers for regional and site-specific forecasting.Fabiano has extensive international experience, having participated in two Italian Antarctic expeditions (2012, 2015-2016), and collaborates with various agencies across Europe, including ARPA Lombardia, ÖBB Infrastruktur AG, and Lawinenwarndienst Tirol. His expertise spans avalanche hazard mapping, remote sensing with satellite imagery, environmental data analysis, and machine learning applications to snow and avalanche risk management.Currently, Fabiano serves as the lead avalanche forecaster for the Municipality of Livigno, managing risk assessments for both recreational backcountry activities and managed ski areas. He is passionate about advancing avalanche safety through research, education, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies. Resources & Links Mentioned:https://www.alpsolut.eu/ https://www.instagram.com/alpsolut.eu/Crew: • Host: Matthias Walcher/Christoph Mitterer • Guest: Fabiano Monti • Producer: Caleb Merrill (@theavalanchehourpodcast)Sponsors: • ⁠Wyssen Avalanche Control ⁠ • ⁠Gordini⁠ • ⁠OpenSnow ⁠ • ⁠IPA Collective🎶 Music by Gravy. Mid Roll Ad Music by Ketsa.Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/alpsolut.eu/Websitehttps://www.alpsolut.eu/ 

Episode Overview:In this compelling episode, Brooke sits down with Nina Marienthal, Lead Guide at Beartooth Powder Guides (BPG)  in Cooke City, Montana, where she landed after starting her career heli-guiding in Alaska. After growing up the daughter of a heli-ski guide and ski instructor—doing her homework at the helibase every spring in Alaska while her parents were out in the snow—it only makes sense that Nina went on to become one of the youngest people to be an AMGA Certified Ski Guide. Currently the lead guide at BPG and an Educator at the American Avalanche Institute, Nina dives into her beginnings working her way up from being an apprentice at Black Ops Valdez in Alaska, to her draw to pursue more human-powered guiding as she progressed in her career and desires for her work. Nina shares unique perspectives on the pace of mechanized vs. human-powered guiding, navigating the industry as a woman, and most importantly how the ascending spiral of mentorship develops over time. Resources & Links Mentioned: • Beartooth Powder Guides • Black Ops Valdez • Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center • Eastern Oregon University Motorized User Survey • AIARE Transceiver Terminology Survey • Boilen/McCammon Human Factor 2.0 Initial Survey: Crew: • Host: Brooke Maushund  • Guest: Nina Marienthal (@nina_marienthal)  • Producer: Caleb Merrill (@theavalanchehourpodcast)Sponsors: • Wyssen Avalanche Control  • Gordini • OpenSnow • Arva Equipment🎶 Music by Ketsa: My Sunny Lounge, Sandstone

Therapy for the Soul: A Beginner’s Toolbox into Navigating Grief, Trauma, and LossGuest:Jenny Fiebig – Licensed Professional Counselor, IFS Trainer, Outdoor Trauma SpecialistHost:Brooke “Shiny” EdwardsRecording Date:December 4th, 2024Episode Summary:In this deeply insightful episode of The Avalanche Hour Podcast, host Brooke “Shiny” Edwards sits down with Jenny Fiebig, a licensed professional counselor specializing in trauma related to outdoor accidents. Jenny shares her journey from outdoor educator and guide to becoming a trauma therapist, blending her love for the wilderness with mental health counseling.They explore how trauma impacts the nervous system, how to process grief and loss in outdoor communities, and how professionals and recreationalists alike can navigate their emotions without suppressing them. Jenny also walks Brooke through real-time nervous system regulation techniques, providing valuable tools for listeners struggling with anxiety or fear in the mountains.This episode serves as both an educational experience and an intimate exploration of Internal Family Systems (IFS)therapy, trauma recovery, and the power of self-compassion in high-risk environments.Key Discussion Points:• How outdoor trauma manifests in the nervous system• Understanding the IFS (Internal Family Systems) therapy model• The “warrior mentality” in outdoor culture and why it can be harmful• Differentiating healthy vs. destructive coping mechanisms after accidents or loss• Tools for navigating fear, grief, and trauma in the backcountry• The stress continuum and recognizing the warning signs of mental health struggles• The work of SOAR (Survivors of Outdoor Adventures in Recovery) in helping trauma survivors healGuest Bio & Background:Jenny Fiebig is a licensed professional counselor in Montana and Colorado, specializing in trauma therapy for outdoor-related accidents. She has a background in outdoor education and guiding, which informs her work in helping individuals heal from experiences of loss, grief, and PTSD related to the backcountry.Jenny pursued a graduate degree in mental health counseling at Montana State University and became a specialist in IFS therapy, now working as a global trainer with the IFS Institute. She is also deeply involved in SOAR (Survivors of Outdoor Adventures in Recovery), where she helps provide therapy, community, and resources for those struggling with outdoor-related trauma.Links & Resources Mentioned:• SOAR (Survivors of Outdoor Adventures in Recovery): https://www.soar4life.org/• Responder Alliance Stress Continuum: https://www.responderalliance.com/stress-continuum• Redside Foundation: https://www.redsidefoundation.org/• IFS Institute: https://ifs-institute.com/• Jenny Fiebig’s Website: https://www.jennyfiebig.com/• Eduardo Duran – Healing the Soul WoundSponsor & Partner Mentions:Presented by:• Wyssen Avalanche Control – www.wyssen.comAdditional sustaining support from:• Gordini – www.gordini.com• OpenSnow – www.opensnow.com• Compare 10-day snow forecasts, read expert analysis, and track storms• Use promo code AVALANCHE50 for 50% off OpenSnow Premium: www.opensnow.com/buy• RAIDE Research – www.raideresearch.com• Use code AVHOUR for 10% off your orderMusic Credits:• Intro Music: Believing – Ketsa• Outro Music: Touching Moments (Remastered) – KetsaWhere to Listen & Subscribe:• Website: The Avalanche Hour Podcast• Spotify: The Avalanche Hour on Spotify• Apple Podcasts: The Avalanche Hour on Apple PodcastsProducer Credits:• Caleb Merrill• Cameron Griffin

In this episode, Sara Boilen interviews Andrea Manberg. Andrea is an economist and researcher who spends her time thinking about human behavior, decision-making, and risk in avalanche terrain. Having survived a pretty brutal avalanche herself, Andrea is passionate about understanding what motivates us toward risk and how we position ourselves to enjoy our pursuits while staying as safe as we want to. She presented at ISSW on her paper, Is it a man’s world? Gendered professional experiences in snow and avalanche safety and came on the podcast to talk to Sara about the reality faced by males, females, and non binary folks in an industry long-dominated by men. The conversation delves into various topics including what makes a good snow and avalanche professional, mentorship, and menstruation. Join us as we deconstruct the myth that it is, and needs to be, a man’s world. Website for CARE (where Andrea Works): https://en.uit.no/ansatte/andrea.mannberg There, you can find out more about Andrea and what the good folks at CARE are doing as well as links to Andrea’s publications. If you’d like to watch more of Andrea, here’s a link to a great talk she gave back in 2017 with the Sawtooth Avalanche Center: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7xSutCesLQRead the research by Andrea and her colleagues, as presented at ISSW Tromso here: https://arc.lib.montana.edu/snow-science/objects/ISSW2024_O11.6.pdfSupport for this Episode is provided by: Wyssen Avalanche Control Gordini OpenSnowPropagation Labs