Today we sit down with Jamie Yount- the Program Manager for the Avalanche Safety Program for the Colorado Department of Transportation. Jamie reflects on his education, career, and the path that he has taken to find himself in this position. He explains how one of the largest state highway avalanche forecasting programs runs. Enjoy. Music today by Schedule One Beats

You asked for it, we delivered it. Here is a bonus episode with Flight Paramedic and Vail Ski Patroller Graham Kane. Graham lays out some important fundamentals of post avalanche burial resuscitation and trauma care in a way that is digestable to all no matter your level of training. A must listen for anyone who spends time in backcountry avalanche terrain. Music by Anitek. Enjoy. You might find it helpful to pull up these resources as Graham lays out the WMS and ICAR Medcom guidelines: https://www.wildmedcenter.com/uploads/5/9/8/2/5982510/wms_snow_burial.pdfhttp://www.alpine-rescue.org/ikar-cisa/documents/2015/ikar20151113001860.pdf

This episode features John Reller and Lane Critser. We talk about the C-RAD (Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment) organization as well as what goes into the training and utilization of Avalanche Dog Teams. It was a super fun interview to do with these guys, and I think you'll enjoy it. Check out C-RAD at www.c-rad.org. Music on this episode was Sunsquabi's "Reptile" (feat. Nicholas Gerlach) off their new album "Instinct". Taking us out of the hour was Cabin Sessions by GRiZ GRiZ - “Cabin Sessions” http://www.mynameisgriz.com/ https://www.facebook.com/mynameisGRiZ/ https://soundcloud.com/griz https://twitter.com/griz https://www.instagram.com/griz

In this episode, we interview Roger Coit. Roger is the faculty lead for the Leadville, CO based Colorado Mountain College Avalanche Science Program. Roger talks about his background and then what it has taken to develop this cutting edge program in the U.S. He explains what the program entails, what is expected of the students, and the value that this program will add to the avalanche industry in the U.S. www.coloradomtn.edu/avalanche-science Enjoy!

A quick holiday message from The Avalanche Hour Podcast.

This episode includes a story and reflections of a guided heli skier being caught in a an avalanche. We then feature an interview with Ted Steiner who is an avalanche forecaster and consultant for the Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railway in Essex, MT. Find out how to enter in this season's first podcast contest, and listen to find out how your donation to the American Avalanche Association can go further this month! Enjoy and Happy Holidays. Music on today's episode is from Broke for Free, The Polish Ambassador, and Podington Bear. All Made possible by the Creative Commons License and distributed through the Free Music Archive. A link to a video about the work Ted and his forecasting team do is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIjXmzIrPO4

This episode features Billy Rankin from Irwin Guides. Irwin Guides, based in Crested Butte Colorado has international year round guided trips- pretty much everything from rafting to climbing to skiing to fly fishing. They have a bad ass cat ski and backcountry ski operation in a zone that has yearly snow averages far exceeding the typical continental snowpack. Tune in as we chat with Billy about his career, some of the intricacies of their ski tenure and weather patterns, as well as how their operation manages uncertainty within the snowpack. Music on this episode was performed by: GRiZ - “Get Down Feat Sunsquabi and Manic Focus” http://www.mynameisgriz.com/ https://www.facebook.com/mynameisGRiZ/ https://soundcloud.com/griz https://twitter.com/griz https://www.instagram.com/griz GRiZ: Gramatik: Muy Tranquilo

People are starting to ride, and people are starting to trigger avalanches! Even if it's not snowing where you are, it is not a bad idea to start tracking what the snowpack is doing where your mid winter backcountry trip may be. This episode has an introduction to the A3's new Executive Director, an awesome ISSW recap from Utah Avalanche Center's Greg Gagne, and a great interview from former ski patroller and supervisor of UDOT's avalanche safety program: Liam Fitzgerald. Hope you enjoy! Music by Sunsquabi and Gramatik with permission of the artists. Here is a link to where you can access all ISSW papers: https://arc.lib.montana.edu/snow-science/

In this episode, We highlight a submission from Greg Cunningham on his favorite couple presentations from ISSW ’18. We then jump into an interview with Jake Hutchinson. Jake is a longtime ski patroller, forecaster, guide, and avalanche educator. Last year, Jake wrote a great article in Ascent Backcountry Snow Journal titled “Guilt” where he talked about issues surrounding perhaps the most pivotal experience of his career. He opens the door on some tough issues facing specifically the patrol and guiding world related to dealing with traumatic events. Do you have thoughts or input on these topics? Reach out to us at theavalanchehourpodcast@gmail.com to send your feedback. Music on this episode was performed by GRiZ and Anitek. Hope you enjoy! GRiZ - “Hard Times” http://www.mynameisgriz.com/ https://www.facebook.com/mynameisGRiZ/ https://soundcloud.com/griz https://twitter.com/griz https://www.instagram.com/griz

Snow is flyin’ up high! It caught me by surprise and I dipped down to the desert between interviews to get some biking in. Tune in to this episode where we talk to Brian Lazar. Brian is the deputy director of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. We chat about the many roles he has had in the Snow and Avalanche world, discuss the structure of the CAIC, and what a day in the life looks like. Enjoy! Music on this episode is performed by Gramatik.