
The Avalanche Hour Podcast
Podcast by Caleb Merrill
Latest episodes

Jun 1, 2021 • 1h 3min
The Avalanche Hour Podcast Episode 5.34 Knox Williams
In this episode, Caleb interviews Knox Williams. Knox was a co-founder of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, and remained the director until retirement in 2005. We talk about the early days for the CAIC, as well as changes and challenges over time. Knox recounts some highlights of a long and successful career working with snow, avalanches, and people. Music by Ketsa.

May 20, 2021 • 49min
The Avalanche Hour Podcast Episode 5.33 Kevin Hjertaas
In this instalment of The Avalanche Hour’s Third Thursday; I sit down on a Zoom call with self proclaimed ski bum, Kevin Hjertaas. Kevin had a short, unremarkable career as a ski patroller and a stint as a middling professional skier. He was a passable ski coach for a time and a tolerable ski journalist some years ago. In a completely predictable move, he became a ski guide and started M-T-N Guiding. Is how Kevin describes himself in a very humble manner. A quick google search of him shows that he is in the realm of badass skiers. He and I discuss how he is doing following an incident that occured in January of 2020.
Here are some places you can find out more about Kevin.
Ep.6 The Fifty: Aemmer Coulouir - Skiing The Frozen North
https://youtu.be/yFXoRlEH--w
M-T-N Guide services
http://mtnguiding.com
Kevin’s Stories
http://skisandmountains.com
The Aftermath of Mountain Tragedy - Kevin Hjertaas and Meghan J. Ward
https://crowfootmedia.com/2020/08/13/the-aftermath-of-mountain-tragedy/
Community of support
https://www.mountainmuskox.com
Instagram
@khjertass
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @theavalanchehour
Follow our supporters on Instagram for up to date news from them.
@TASBYMND
@10barrelbrewing
@interwest_insurance
Resources on the socials
@americanavalancheassociation
@avalanchecanada
Check out The Avalanche Hour Savings
WNDR Alpine skis 10% off: FOWFFR10-4SZB7P
Do note that if you order bindings with their skis, there's an automatic 10% ski & binding bundle discount that gets applied and overrides this friends and family one. So, if you are needing to order bindings with your skis, you will have to do so in a separate order unfortunately, otherwise you will only receive 10% off the skis. Good thing is shipping is free, so no additional cost there.
HAGAN SKI MOUNTAINEERING 15% off with code: AvalancheHour15 alnk.to/6bNgvJb
SOCIAL CBD 20% OFF LINK: www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=ml&…908357&pw=282549

May 17, 2021 • 1h 9min
The Avalanche Hour Podcast Episode 5.32 Kelly Interviews The Mountain Riding Lab
In episode 5.32, Kelly McNeil interviews Matt Schebaum and Will Mook of The Mountain Riding Lab. They share their experience as snowmobile guides, avalanche instructors and business owners. We talk about the specifics of motorized avalanche education and outreach. Will and Matt are fun, energetic, and amazing individuals who are educating many snowmobilers each year. Those two are making a huge impact in the motorized world of avalanche education! We hope you enjoy this episode! Music by Ketsa.

May 13, 2021 • 1h 19min
The Avalanche Hour Podcast Episode 5.31 Jonathan Preuss
'Sode 5.31 features Jonathan Preuss, a ski guide from the Sun Valley Idaho area. JP recounts an experience of being caught in an avalanche in the Lost River Range in Idaho on April 13th, 2019. He and his partner were attempting to ski 9 peaks above 12,000 feet in a single push when the avalanche occurred. JP's thoughtful reflections of what happened leading up to, throughout, and after the accident have many lessons we can all learn from.
Follow along with pictures and maps on JP's blog here: https://www.jpadventures.com/blog/the-mountains-gave-us-a-hall-pass
Music by Ketsa: www.Ketsa.uk
WNDR Alpine skis 10% off: FOWFFR10-4SZB7P
Do note that if you order bindings with their skis, there's an automatic 10% ski & binding bundle discount that gets applied and overrides this friends and family one. So, if you are needing to order bindings with your skis, you will have to do so in a separate order unfortunately, otherwise you will only receive 10% off the skis. Good thing is shipping is free, so no additional cost there.
HAGAN SKI MOUNTAINEERING 15% off with code: AvalancheHour15 https://alnk.to/6bNgvJb

May 4, 2021 • 57min
The Avalanche Hour Podcast Ep5.30 Dom Baker Interviews Brad White
In this episode Dom Baker has an amazing chat with Brad White. A fully-certified IFMGA / ACMG Mountain Guide with over 35 years of experience in the avalanche and mountain safety industry. He recently retired from a career with Parks Canada as a Visitor Safety Specialist with responsibilities for mountain rescue and avalanche forecasting in Banff, Kootenay and Yoho National Parks. Brad is a senior professional member of the Canadian Avalanche Association and has taught over 50 advanced avalanche courses in Canada and Japan. He has worked on many of the initiatives and committees that have been instrumental in developing the latest best practices for avalanche forecasting, hazard classification and public bulletins. He is also a past ski guide examiner for the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides.
You can find more about Brad on his website:
https://www.bradfordwhitephoto.com
or on Instagram @jbradfordwhite
Music written and produced by Chris Kaplinski
Episode Produced by Wes Gregg - @wesleylgregg
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @theavalanchehourpodcast
Follow our supporters on Instagram for up to date news from them.
@TASBYMND
@10barrelbrewing
@interwest_insurance
Resources on the socials
@americanavalancheassociation
@avalanchecanada
The Avalanche Hour Savings:
WNDR Alpine skis 10% off: FOWFFR10-4SZB7P
Do note that if you order bindings with their skis, there's an automatic 10% ski & binding bundle discount that gets applied and overrides this friends and family one. So, if you are needing to order bindings with your skis, you will have to do so in a separate order unfortunately, otherwise you will only receive 10% off the skis. Good thing is shipping is free, so no additional cost there.
HAGAN SKI MOUNTAINEERING 15% off with code: AvalancheHour15 alnk.to/6bNgvJb
SOCIAL CBD 20% OFF LINK: www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=ml&…908357&pw=282549

May 1, 2021 • 1h 26min
The Avalanche Hour Podcast Episode 5.29 Michael Ackerman
'Sode 5.29 features Michael Ackerman who is the Deputy Director of the Silverton Avalanche School. We recorded this episode before the snow started to fly in the fall. Ack and I chat about his career path, how SAS planned to tackle the challenges posed by a global pandemic, some of the ways SAS has evolved and continues to evolve, and his hopes for a bright future for all backcountry users. Enjoy! Music by Ketsa

Apr 27, 2021 • 46min
The Avalanche Hour Podcast Episode 5.28 Kelly Interviews Jeff Hambleton
Jeff Hambleton is dropping some great knowledge on episode 5.28. Jeff is the AIARE Motorized Program Manager and works with avalanche professionals from around the world and across multiple disciplines. Jeff spends his time building avalanche education tools and training new generations of avalanche professionals. Jeff talks about his venture into motorized avalanche education, the process AIARE has embarked on over the past few years to develop and deliver a motorized specific curriculum, and how cultural shifts happen. We hope you enjoy this episode!
Music by Ketsa

Apr 20, 2021 • 58min
The Avalanche Hour Podcast Episode 5.27 Anne St. Claire
In this episode, we sit down with Annes St. Claire. Anne is a researcher and practitioner who works as an avalanche forecaster and educator. She has a foot on either side of the US/Canadian border so to speak as she is from the states but has continued her higher education in Canada as well as works as an avalanche forecaster in Revelstoke. We chat about her development as an avalanche professional and her Master's degree research involving a survey that is hoping to help forecast centers understand their audience better. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Music by Chris Kaplinski
WNDR Alpine skis 10% off: FOWFFR10-4SZB7P
Do note that if you order bindings with their skis, there's an automatic 10% ski & binding bundle discount that gets applied and overrides this friends and family one. So, if you are needing to order bindings with your skis, you will have to do so in a separate order unfortunately, otherwise you will only receive 10% off the skis. Good thing is shipping is free, so no additional cost there.
HAGAN SKI MOUNTAINEERING 15% off with code: AvalancheHour15 https://alnk.to/6bNgvJb

Apr 15, 2021 • 56min
The Avalanche Hour Podcast Episode 5.26 Kim Vinet
In this episode of the Third Thursday Wes Gregg sits down with Kim Vinet who is a CSGA Ski Guide, Professional Skier and Earth Scientist. Freeride skiing launched Kim into the world of backcountry skiing and education back in 2010. After a brief introduction to ski guiding professionally, Kim was involved in an avalanche fatality that changed the course of all 3 of her careers. 7 years later, after a lot of therapy and continued education and certification, Kim is a full time ski guide at Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing. We talk about her journey through trauma, PTSD and recovery, the importance of allowing yourself to be vulnerable and how her time on snow has inspired her to develop Affirmative Sustainability; a consulting company dedicated to reducing your corporate footprint and creating sustainable products.
To find out more about Kim check out her website
www.affirmativesustainability.com
Give her and her sponsors a follow on Instagram
@kim_vinet
@blizzardskis
@tecnica_sports
@flylowgear
@we_are_sungod
@revelstokemtnresort
@protectourwinterscanada
@mikewiegeleheli
Music written by Chris Kaplinski and Darrel Weeks
Follow us on Instagram @theavalanchehour
Follow our supporters on Instagram for up to date news from them.
@TASBYMND
@10barrelbrewing
@interwest_insurance
Resources on the socials
@americanavalancheassociation
@avalanchecanada
The Avalanche Hour Savings:
WNDR Alpine skis 10% off: FOWFFR10-4SZB7P
Do note that if you order bindings with their skis, there's an automatic 10% ski & binding bundle discount that gets applied and overrides this friends and family one. So, if you are needing to order bindings with your skis, you will have to do so in a separate order unfortunately, otherwise you will only receive 10% off the skis. Good thing is shipping is free, so no additional cost there.
HAGAN SKI MOUNTAINEERING 15% off with code: AvalancheHour15 alnk.to/6bNgvJb
SOCIAL CBD 20% OFF LINK: www.avantlink.com/click.php?tt=ml&…908357&pw=282549

Apr 12, 2021 • 50min
The Avalanche Hour Podcast Episode 5.25 Matthias Interviews Matthias Schilchegger & Manca Volk Bahun
At the beginning of 2021, two incidents occurred in the eastern part of the European Alps where mountain rescuers were caught by hangfire avalanches during ongoing rescue operations. In this episode, Matthias Walcher interviews two people directly involved, who shed light on the circumstances of the accidents and share the lessons learned:
Matthias Schilchegger is a mountain rescue leader in Obertauern (Austria) and Manca Volk Bahun is a snow scientist and avalanche forecaster based in Trzic, Slovenia.
Music by Ketsa
WNDR Alpine skis 10% off: FOWFFR10-4SZB7P
Do note that if you order bindings with their skis, there's an automatic 10% ski & binding bundle discount that gets applied and overrides this friends and family one. So, if you are needing to order bindings with your skis, you will have to do so in a separate order unfortunately, otherwise you will only receive 10% off the skis. Good thing is shipping is free, so no additional cost there.
HAGAN SKI MOUNTAINEERING 15% off with code: AvalancheHour15 https://alnk.to/6bNgvJb