The Avalanche Hour Podcast

The Avalanche Hour
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The Avalanche Hour Podcast

Podcast by Caleb Merrill

  1. From Horses to Horizons: Liz King’s Avalanche Education Journey

    6 DAYS AGO

    From Horses to Horizons: Liz King’s Avalanche Education Journey

    Episode Overview In this engaging episode, host Jason Antin dives into a captivating conversation with Liz King, a renowned leader in avalanche education and mountain safety. Liz shares her unique journey from her unexpected beginnings in Houston, Texas, to becoming a key figure in the avalanche education world. As the Avalanche Program Director for both the American Avalanche Institute (AAI) and the Colorado Mountain School (CMS), Liz oversees comprehensive avalanche programming, from recreational courses to professional certifications. Liz’s story begins with a love for the mountains that led her to the University of Montana, where she first discovered her passion for the outdoors. Her career started with horse packing at NOLS, transitioned to ski patrolling, and grew into a prominent role as an avalanche educator and guide. Liz reflects on her path, discussing the evolving landscape of avalanche education, the challenges of managing large-scale programs, and the importance of mentorship in outdoor leadership. This episode offers deep insights into Liz’s professional evolution, her perspective on student engagement, and the advancements in avalanche safety technology. Jason and Liz discuss the shifting demographics of avalanche education students, the balance between recreational and professional training, and Liz’s personal goals as she navigates her leadership roles. The conversation also highlights Liz’s reflections on mentorship, her passion for empowering the backcountry community, and her dedication to maintaining personal connections in the mountains. With humor and authenticity, Liz shares her “personal disaster flags” (PDFs), her thoughts on the role of mentorship in her career, and her excitement for skiing in new mountain ranges every year. Whether you’re a seasoned avalanche educator or new to the backcountry world, this episode is packed with valuable insights, inspiration, and a glimpse into the mind of a true mountain professional. Resources & Links Mentioned • American Avalanche Institute (AAI): www.avalancheinstitute.com • Colorado Mountain School (CMS): www.coloradomountainschool.com • American Avalanche Association (A3): www.avalanche.org • Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center: www.jhavalanche.org Crew • Host: Jason Antin • Guest: Liz King • Producer: Caleb Merrill and Cameron Griffin Sponsors • Wyssen: www.wyssen.com • OpenSnow: www.opensnow.com • Gordini: www.gordini.com • Beacon Guidebooks: www.beaconguidebooks.com  Music by Age Diamante: • Chill Pah

    1h 5m
  2. Layers of Life and Learning: Lessons from the Mountains with Josh Hirshberg

    JAN 2

    Layers of Life and Learning: Lessons from the Mountains with Josh Hirshberg

    In this compelling episode, Brooke sits down with Josh Hirshberg, a veteran avalanche forecaster and educator with nearly two decades of experience in the snow safety world. Currently forecasting for the Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC), Josh dives into his journey through the avalanche industry, from early internships in Aspen to forecasting in Washington’s Cascades. Josh shares captivating insights about the notable February 2021 avalanche cycle in Washington, the challenges of persistent weak layers, and the importance of mentorship and collaboration. He also reflects on personal growth, balancing creative pursuits like photography and art, and how grief has shaped his perspective on the mountains and life. Resources & Links Mentioned • Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC): www.nwac.us Crew • Host: Brooke Maushund • Guest: Josh Hirshberg • Producer: Cameron Griffin (@backcountrycam) Sponsors • Wyssen: www.wyssen.com • Arva: www.arva-equipment.com • OpenSnow: www.opensnow.com • Gordini: www.gordini.com • Safeback: www.safeback.com • Beacon Guidebooks: www.beaconguidebooks.com 🎶 Music by Ketsa: • Yellowish • Snowing in Spring • Anons

    1h 20m
  3. Fat skis are a risk management tool and other Goldie Nuggets: Sara Boilen x Larry Goldie

    12/26/2024

    Fat skis are a risk management tool and other Goldie Nuggets: Sara Boilen x Larry Goldie

    In this episode of the Avalanche Hour Podcast, host Dr. Sara Boilen interviews Larry Goldie.  Larry is an IFMGA licensed mountain guide and co-owner/lead guide for North Cascades Mountain Guides.  He has been the snow safety director and heli ski guide for North Cascades Heli since 2005.  Larry works on the AMGA instructor team, and teaches pro and recreational avalanche courses.  Sara and Larry discuss the challenges women face in the guiding and avalanche education fields, the importance of effective communication in guiding, and share personal experiences and lessons delivered in the arena.   Larry emphasizes the need for clear, concise communication and the value of maintaining options in decision-making while navigating the complexities of the backcountry. In this conversation, Larry shares a harrowing personal experience of surviving an avalanche, emphasizing the critical importance of clear communication and the dangers of mitigated speech in high-risk situations. He discusses the psychological factors that lead to downplaying risks and the need for honest assessments of danger in backcountry skiing. The conversation also highlights the value of debriefing to learn from experiences and improve decision-making in uncertain environments. ⁠⁠⁠Fill out our Listener Survey for the chance to win a gift card from Gordini and a pack from Arva! Support for this episode was provided by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wyssen Avalanche Control⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Gordini⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OpenSnow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: use code avalanche50 for 50% off of your all-access subscription IPA Collective

    1h 18m
  4. Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast: Karin Pocock

    12/15/2024

    Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast: Karin Pocock

    This episode features an interview with Karin Pocock. Karin Pocock shares her journey in the avalanche industry, discussing her experiences in both Canada and the U.S. She reflects on a pivotal avalanche incident that shaped her career and emphasizes the importance of education and training in avalanche safety. Karin also highlights the unique culture at the Silverton Avalanche School and addresses the challenges of being a female leader in a male-dominated field, advocating for inclusivity and support for future generations. In this conversation, Karin Pocock discusses the importance of hiring based on skill rather than gender, the challenges of navigating confidence and competence in high-risk avalanche work, and the significance of managing stress in demanding environments. She shares her experiences discovering the value of pushing personal limits through bike pack racing, and the necessity of fostering healthy conflict within teams. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of education in avalanche science and the need for a supportive and empowering workplace culture. ⁠⁠Fill out our Listener Survey for the chance to win a gift card from Gordini and a pack from Arva!⁠ Music: ⁠Ketsa⁠ Art: ⁠Mike Tea⁠ Support for this episode was provided by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Wyssen Avalanche Control⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Gordini⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠OpenSnow⁠⁠⁠⁠: use code avalanche50 for 50% off of your all-access subscription Arva Equipment: use code AVALANCHEHOUR25 for a discount on your next purchase or canister refill

    1h 16m
  5. Winter Weather Forecasting with Joel Gratz and OpenSnow

    12/08/2024

    Winter Weather Forecasting with Joel Gratz and OpenSnow

    In this episode of the Avalanche Hour podcast, Caleb speaks with meteorologist Joel Gratz- founder of Open Snow, about the importance of weather forecasting for skiing and how it pertains to avalanche conditions. They unpack how much to weigh El Nino and La Nina on winter weather predictions, and Joel walks us through what goes into a forecast from OpenSnow. Joel shares insights into the features of Open Snow and discusses the intricacies of weather forecasting, particularly in relation to snow prediction. He explains the importance of the five-day window for making accurate forecasts and delves into the development and functionality of various weather models. Gratz highlights the significance of resolution in forecasting accuracy and introduces the role of AI in enhancing predictions. He also emphasizes the value of using multiple models for better accuracy and provides resources for those interested in learning more about weather and forecasting. Resources: Secrets of the Greatest Snow on Earth: Weather, Climate Change, and Finding Deep Powder in Utah's Wasatch Mountains and around the World By Jim Steenburgh ⁠Fill out our Listener Survey for the chance to win a gift card from Gordini and a pack from Arva! Music: Ketsa Art: Mike Tea Support for this episode was provided by: ⁠⁠⁠Wyssen Avalanche Control⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Gordini⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠OpenSnow⁠⁠⁠: use code avalanche50 for 50% off of your all-access subscription

    51 min
  6. The Why of Adventure and The Adventure of Why: Shiny x Ken Wylie

    12/01/2024

    The Why of Adventure and The Adventure of Why: Shiny x Ken Wylie

    Ken Wylie is a Human Hazard Management innovator, formerly an IFMGA guide, and author of the book Buried.  Ken’s company, Archetypal, provides high-resolution self-awareness tools for people who work in High Potential Consequence (HPC) environments across several industries.  In this conversation, Guest host Brooke Shiny Edwards takes a deeper dive into the heart of Ken Wylie and the vision he has for (HPC) Avalanche Workers and the adventure industry.  We recommend reminding yourself of Ken’s background by re-visiting last year’s episode 8.1 when Caleb has Ken take the audience through the infamous 2003 tragedy of La Traviata.  In this episode, Shiny and Wylie explore more of the insights to be harvested from that tragedy: the archetypes of disaster and safety,  avenues of self-growth that can inform our decision making and how to embrace our shadow and light within, which may indeed be the greatest opportunity yet to embody our highest selves and manage the human factor castle.    So grab a cup of tea, a blanket and snuggle up by the fire for a deep and open hearted philosophical journey that hopefully guides you to integral moments of self-reflection that might help you stay safe this season. Fill out our Listener Survey Music: Ketsa Art: Mike Tea Resources: The Evolving Self: A Psychology for the Third Millennium. Milhaly Csikszentmihalyi Robert Kegan Stages in Adult Development: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhRNMj6UNYY The Evolving Self: Robert Kegan. Human Journey Card Decks Archetypal Open Enrollment Courses Archetypal Workplace Courses Support for this episode was provided by: ⁠⁠Wyssen Avalanche Control⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Gordini⁠⁠ ⁠⁠OpenSnow⁠⁠: use code avalanche50 for 50% off of your all-access subscription ⁠Beacon Guidebooks: use code AVSAR to save 25% off the popular Avalanche Search and Rescue: A Backcountry Field Guide

    1h 18m
  7. 7 Irons in 6 Fires: Jake Hutchinson x Gabrielle Antonioli

    11/22/2024

    7 Irons in 6 Fires: Jake Hutchinson x Gabrielle Antonioli

    In this episode of the Avalanche Hour, host Jake Hutchinson sits down with Gabrielle Antonioli, a forecaster for the Bridger Teton Avalanche Center and founder of the A3’s Resilience Project. They discuss Gabrielle's journey into avalanche forecasting, the importance of mental health support in the avalanche community, and the need for inclusive avalanche education for motorized users. The conversation also delves into the unique challenges of forecasting on the Going to the Sun Road, highlighting the complexities of forecasting for wet snow natural avalanches.  In this conversation, Gabrielle and Hutch discuss the importance of mentorship and community, and emphasize the need for a supportive environment for future generations. The Fundamental Process in Conventional Avalanche Forecasting by Ed LaChapelle We hope you enjoy the conversation. Music: Ketsa  Art: Mike Tea Please Fill out our Listener Survey! Support for this episode was provided by: ⁠Wyssen Avalanche Control⁠ ⁠Gordini⁠ ⁠OpenSnow⁠: use code avalanche50 for 50% off of your all-access subscription Raide Research: use code avhour for 10% your next pack or bibs!

    1h 16m
  8. Talking to the Mountain: Jason Antin x Vince Anderson

    11/15/2024

    Talking to the Mountain: Jason Antin x Vince Anderson

    In this episode guest host Jason Antin sits down with Vince Anderson.  Vince shares his journey from growing up in Golden, Colorado, to becoming a prominent figure in the alpine climbing and guiding communities. He discusses his early experiences with climbing and skiing, the early days of the AMGA, and the evolution of avalanche education. In this conversation, he discusses the evolution of educational practices in guiding, reflecting on his own experiences and the changes he has witnessed over the years. He shares key turning points in his career, including influential mentors and pivotal moments that shaped his development as a guide. The discussion also delves into the challenges of balancing parenthood with a career in guiding, highlighting the complexities of risk management and decision-making in the mountains.  Skyward Mountaineering Music: Age Diamante Art: Mike Tea Fill out our Listener Survey! Support for this episode was provided by: ⁠Wyssen Avalanche Control⁠ ⁠Gordini⁠ ⁠OpenSnow⁠: use code avalanche50 for 50% off of your all-access subscription ⁠Propagation Labs⁠

    1h 27m
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4.9
out of 5
179 Ratings

About

Podcast by Caleb Merrill

Information

  • Creator
    The Avalanche Hour
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    202
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Avalanche Hour
  • Show Website
    The Avalanche Hour Podcast

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