The Avalanche Hour Podcast

The Avalanche Hour

Podcast by Caleb Merrill

  1. 8h ago

    From the Adriatic to the Alps: The Croatian Mountain Rescue Service Makes the Save

    Nikola and Stele are Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS) members.  The HGSS has been operating for over 75 years, primarily tending to cave rescues, ocean rescue, rock rescue, and more recently, avalanche rescue. It is a nationwide rescue organization with over 2500 members. The alpine terrain in the country is minimal, but the country is an exporter of avalanche victims. Including a prolific accident that killed a member of the organization and injured several others in neighboring Bosnia-Herzegovina. Nikola and Stele have been involved with HGSS since they were young adults and serve as lead trainers, organizing international workshops for their organization's avalanche commission. HGSS has gained status as an ICAR delegate organization, and as of 2019 they regularly bring US avalanche instructors over to teach their team the emerging standards of North America. Working with these two on several custom programs, I have gotten to know their team and admire the commitment they place on advanced alpine training, often traveling to neighboring alpine countries like Slovenia, Austria, Italy, and France to practice.  Summary of their conversation: Nikola Brebric and Stele Stefanac give an overview of the history of the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service highlighting: - Their involvement over two decades - How the dynamic contrast of the recreational opportunities influence training, education and prevention, and rescue operations. - The way a significant event shaped their organizations approach to internal training - How they have made connections across the globe to keep their team up to speed on the latest advances in Avalanche Search and Rescue. Croatian Mountain Rescue Service Website Thanks to the sponsors of the show. Legacy Sponsors: Darren Johnson Avalanche Education Memorial Fund Drone Amplified’s Montis The Guide Network Partner Sponsors: Austin Powder Peak Visor onX Backcountry Episode Sponsor:  Arva Equipment  Music: Ketsa Artwork: Mike Tea  Production: Caleb Merrill, Angie Lake

    From the Adriatic to the Alps: The Croatian Mountain Rescue Service Makes the Save
  2. Sep 25

    Almost 200 Years of Explosives Manufacturing - Austin Powder: Sponsor Highlight

    Season 11 is just around the corner, kicking off October 1st.  Join us for a shout out to one of our sponsors - Austin Powder, a major manufacturer of explosive products for the avalanche industry.  Hear a bit about the history of the company, a time when the North American avalanche industry was close to starting a winter season without an explosive supplier, and stay tuned until the end to hear some observations and insights on cornice blasting and case charging.   Learn about the history of the Avalauncher, and how mining rock blasting and avalanche control blasting are more similar than it might seem.   Host Dom is joined by Braden Schmidt, Austin Powder Avalanche Global President and Michael Blancher, Austin Powder Technical Manager.  Both Braden and Michael have decades of experience in the avalanche industry and bring their expertise to their role supporting avalanche operations with technical blasting challenges.   Braden Schmidt has worked in Explosives Avalanche Control Operations since 2004. He is a Professional Member of both the Canadian Avalanche Association as well as the American Avalanche Association, and a member of International Society of Explosives Engineers. He sat on the Explosives Advisory Committee of the Canadian Avalanche Association for 3 years before moving into his current role with Austin Powder Avalanche in 2018. He has conducted Avalanche control mission in Canada, USA and Europe and has also consulted on jobs in Iceland, Japan and New Zealand. Michael Blancher has spent 29 years in the avalanche patch hunting frozen forms with the Ski Patrol at Whistler Blackcomb, then MOT Hwy’s Avalanche Weather Program Supervisor, now proudly serving the community with fresh Austin Powder.   Episode Summary: - Learn about how a nearly 200 yr old privately held company is helping keep ski hills, highways and infrastructure open by supplying explosives for avalanche control. - Hear about the evolution of the Avalauncher, as well as insights on better techniques and technology for case charging and cornice control.   - Consider how surface rock blasting and avalanche control blasting have more in common than it might first seem. - Tune in to catch up on the latest from one of the avalanche industry’s best supporters. Thanks to Austin Powder for supporting the show! Music: Ketsa Artwork: Mike Tea  Production: Dom Baker, Angie Lake

    Almost 200 Years of Explosives Manufacturing - Austin Powder: Sponsor Highlight
  3. Aug 12

    Imagining the Worst Case Scenario with Chris Kaipio and Jordy Shepherd: Delivering Adventure Podcast

    Summer Series #3 We continue our summer series with a cross-air of one of our favorite podcasts, ⁠Delivering Adventure⁠. Why is it so important to imagine the worst-case scenario? What happens when we don’t? In this episode of Delivering Adventure, Chris and Jordy share a few examples from their adventure industry careers to illustrate the importance of considering the worst-case scenario. They also talk about some of the factors that can compromise our ability to foresee what can happen if things don’t go to plan and how we can avoid falling into these traps. Chris Kaipio has been working in the adventure guiding industry as a guide, instructor, trainer, manager and content developer since 1991. Jordy Shepard is an internationally certified ACMG / IFMGA Mountain Guide, guide trainer, an avalanche educator, rescue specialist, and a former park warden. Key Takeaways How we can imagine the wort-case scenario: Consider What can Reasonably Happen: This involves asking ourselves what all the possible negative outcomes could be and identifying if we are prepared if they come to pass. Be detail oriented: The difference between a professional and an amateur is being detail oriented. Considering all the details before hand gives us an opportunity to identify and plan for all the likely outcomes that may happen. Think ahead: This can require us to step away from complex situations so that we can fully consider the situation and what lies ahead. Ask if we are Missing Anything: Is there information that we might be missing? This is something that we should always be asking ourselves. This helps to avoid developing tunnel vision. Do your research: This can involve talking to others and looking at case-studies. Training and Simulations: This can give us firsthand experience with what can happen. Communicate the Risks Thoroughly: This creates an opportunity for everyone to understand what hazards they can expect to encounter. Guest Bios Chris Kaipio is the produce and co-host of Delivering Adventure. He has worked in the adventure industry as an instructor, guide, trainer and manager since 2001. Chris is currently developing the Managing Risk on Snow eLearning Certification for the Professional Ski Instructors of Canada. When complete, this will be a robust four level online risk management and decision-making certification for guides and Instructors. Chris has written the book Power to Influence: How to get the best out of ourselves and others. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. This is where he met Jordy Shepherd. Jordy Shepherd is the co-host of Delivering Adventure. Jordy is an internationally certified ACMG / IFMGA Mountain Guide, guide trainer, an avalanche educator, rescue specialist, and a former park warden. His work experience includes Canadian Avalanche Association Course Leader for Avalanche Search and Rescue Advanced Skills, Provincial Park Ranger, National Park Warden, Wildlife Conflict Specialist, Wildland and Structural Firefighter, Mountain and Industrial Rescue Specialist, Heli-skiing Operations Manager and Lead Guide, and Licensed Real Estate Agent.  In addition to all of his work in the adventure guiding industry, Jordy runs a successful real estate company in Canmore Alberta where he currently lives with is family. Follow, Subscribe and Listen to more Delivering Adventure Podcasts here.

    Imagining the Worst Case Scenario with Chris Kaipio and Jordy Shepherd: Delivering Adventure Podcast
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Podcast by Caleb Merrill

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