Show Notes: Eeva and I met through our work with the American Avalanche Association and have spent many seasons working through ways to improve the educational landscape in the US. Her tireless efforts, unique skillset, and overall amazing demeanor inspire me as an educator. For this conversation, we talk about things not directly related to avalanche education, but instead focus on the state of the avalanche community in various areas, how to support each other’s mental health, and share a few anecdotes about time well spent in the mountains. It is with great pleasure that we present this information to our listeners so they can benefit from her worldly perspective. Check out a new research project she is engaged with below: Invitation to participate in Winter 2021-22 Research project WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO? Do you go out to backcountry to ski or ride regularly? We need your help this winter to collect information about how groups decide where they go to play. This research will increase our understanding on where folks go to ski or ride and why. The participants will fill out a weekly online questionnaire for a minimum of one month. Yes - it will be a commitment, but we will make it as easy for you as possible. Example questions: When did you decide where to go? Who did you go with? What factors made you decide to go there? But don’t worry about sharing information about your secret stash - the participation is confidential and no details about your personal choices will be shared in public. Interested? Fill out this contact form. We will then email you in late December to get you set to participate in the research. https://forms.gle/gfgRBXrQiDpX8jEz9 Questions? Email Eeva Latosuo elatosuo@alaskapacific.edu Research methods have been approved by Alaska Pacific University.

Time for another look to the other side of the Atlantic- the Alps. This third episode by the Austrian Avalanche Association starts off with avalanche forecasters Matthias Walcher and Christoph Mitterer chatting about a challenging early season snowpack concerning most of the Eastern Alps. With a persistent weak layer close to ground, strong winds, significant loading and ski resorts still partially closed due to a nation wide lockdown, Austria already claims 4 tragic avalanche fatalities. The second part of this episode features 3 x Freeride World Tour Winner Arianna Tricomi and FWT Open Faces organizer and mountain guide Markus Kogler. Listen in to find out more about these Freeride events and the safety measures surrounding their organization. Austrian Association for Snow and Avalanche www.oegsl.at - die Webseite der ÖGSL Follow us and our sponsors on the socials: @wyssen_avalanche_control @10barrelbrewing @interwest_insurance @theavalanchehourpodcast Episode produced by Wes Gregg @wesleylgregg on Instagram Music provided with permission from the artist: Ketsa - Full Hands Empty Heart Artwork provide by Mike Tea

I caught up with Tom Carter at his home in Lake Tahoe earlier this fall. Tom shares some of his experiences and lessons learned in the mountains. From his early days climbing in the Yosemite valley to exploring snow capped mountains of the Sierra to 30 years of heli ski guiding in the Ruby Mountains, Tom has found joy in all of his adventures. You'll be sure to like this one. Music by Age Diamante @agediamante

Three experienced women from the Canadian Avalanche industry sit down with guest host Dom Baker for a conversation about parenting and motherhood as an avalanche worker. Lisa Paulson is an ACMG mountain guide – the 8th female fully accredited ACMG mountain guide in Canada. She works as a Visitor Safety Specialist for Parks Canada, doing technical rescue as well as highway and public avalanche forecasting. When time allows, she guides both mechanized skiing and ski touring, as well as teaches both recreational and professional level avalanche courses. Lisa lives in Banff with her family, that includes two kids launching into the teen years! Wren McElroy is currently a lead forecaster with 6 Point Engineering on the Kemano T2 project in Northwestern BC. Wren has taught both recreational and professional avalanche courses and previously was the Snow Safety Supervisor at Whitewater Ski Resort in Nelson, BC. Wren is mom to Conrad, 21 River, 17 and stepmom to Jack 13. Bree Stefanson is an Avalanche Technician with the BC Ministry of Transportation Bear Pass Avalanche Program based in Stewart, BC, as well as a SAR Manager with Stewart Search and Rescue. Prior to this role she did other highways avalanche work, as well as industrial avalanche work throughout northwestern BC. Bree got her start in the avalanche patch as a pro patroller at Castle Mountain Resort. She is also a former CARDA avalanche dog handler. Bree lives in Stewert with her family, including a young daughter. Music in this episode used with permission from the artist - Age Diamante "I Do Love You" Produced by FBRrecording - Wes Gregg The Avalanche Hour Podcast logo designed by Mike Tea The Avalanche Hour Podcast is made possible with the support from: Wyssen Avalanche Control 10 Barrel Brewing Interwest Insurance

Lel Tone sits down and talks about her time spent in the snow and avalanche industry working as a ski patroller, heli ski guide, avalanche forecaster, and educator. She gives an honest perspective to both the highs and the lows that is the reality of her line of work. Lel talks about what her days look like avalanche forecasting for the railroad out of Truckee California, some lessons learned from many days guiding out of the helicopter in Alaska, and reflections of early morning avalanche mitigation routes at the ski hill. There is lots of wisdom in this 'sode. Enjoy. Music by Ketsa Please consider donating to the American Avalanche Association today. Through the end of 2021, your donations will be matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000. This is made possible through a generous anonymous donor. Visit www.americanavalancheassociation.org and click "donate" www.safeasclinics.com

Episode 6.4 features IFMGA guide Martin Volken. Martin shares his story of becoming a guide service and gear shop owner. Martin talks about what goes into co-authoring several books. He explains a matrix to weigh the likelihood versus consequences of a given hazard that he utilizes when guiding in the mountains. Enjoy the show. Music by @agediamante

In this instalment of The Avalanche Hour Podcast; I sit down on a Zoom call with the one and only Captain CAPOW, Marty Schaffer! He may be the most stoked individual you’ll ever meet. It’s contagious and he’ll probably bring the best out of you. It has always been Marty’s vision to bring together industry professionals and the recreational enthusiast for an approachable, educational good time in the mountains. Marty and I discuss his history, vision, and the future of Avalanche Education. Please enjoy! www.capow.ca www.blanketglacierchalet.com Follow Marty on instagram @capowguiding Music by: Age Diamante Produced by: Wes Gregg

We start out this episode with an introduction of the new A3 executive director, Jayne Nolan. Jayne stops by and we chat about her background, the state of the A3, and some of the hopes for the future of the organization. This episode features Alexis Alloway. Alexis has spent two decades working as a professional educator in both classroom and field-based settings. She has taught avalanche courses since 2006 for diverse organizations including NOLS, the Northwest Avalanche Center, Friends of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center, and Everett Mountain Rescue. Seeing a lack of concise and consolidated resources to help teach and learn avalanche rescue skills, she recently published her first book, Avalanche Search and Rescue: A Backcountry Field Guide. We chat about Alexis’ experience working with Everett Mountain Rescue, the process of compiling and authoring her first book, her thoughts on the current state of avalanche education in the US, as well as some reflections from her experiences teaching in and travelling through avalanche terrain. Today, October 15, 2021 is the last day to apply for the Wyssen USA Professional Avalanche Education Scholarship. The link to the application is here: https://forms.gle/TSjtTfDzdztmc9UL7 Music: Ketsa www.ketsa.uk Need a new pair of skis? Consider WNDR Alpine. I love these skis. Use this code to save some dough! FOWFR10-CalebMerrill

Welcome back to another season of The Avalanche Hour Podcast. We kick off season 6 with a great conversation with Zahan Billimoria. Steep lines, deep snow, and the wilderness experience define Zahan Billimoria’s life. Over the past 20 years, Z has pursued international expeditions, competed in world championship endurance events, stood on podiums, and bagged first descents—all fueled by his passion for human-powered adventure. His career highlights include multiple ski descents of the Grand Teton, first descents in the Teton Range, a ski descent of Mount Rainier’s Liberty Ridge, exploratory ski missions to the coastal range and the Cordillera Real in the Bolivian Andes, and free climbs up to 5.13-. Today, Z splits his time between working as an IFMGA Mountain Guide, leading teams through some of the harshest and most challenging mountain environments, and coaching others to reach their own athletic potentials through his online training company The Samsara Experience. Music: Own World & I Overjoy by Ketsa. www.ketsa.uk Photos: Reuben Krabbe Wyssen USA Pro Avalanche Education Scholarship Application: https://forms.gle/TSjtTfDzdztmc9UL7 Due Oct. 15 https://samsaraexperience.com/ Solving for Z- A Calculus of Risk: https://youtu.be/QHVSeqzI1vU I ride WNDR skis. They are the only ski company to be a certified B corporation. They are swapping out petroleum based materials for bio based materials. Their skis rip. If you want to give them a shot, here is a code to save some cash. FOWFR10-CalebMerrill

Tune in to hear some exciting updates to The Avalanche Hour Podcast for the upcoming season. Link to Wyssen USA Education Scholarship Application. DUE OCT. 15!! https://forms.gle/TSjtTfDzdztmc9UL7 Music by Ketsa