Schedule is subject to change prior to event - all times in PDT
Monday May 3rd
8:30 am - 12:30 pm Producer: Brent Strand
8:30-8:35am CAA Welcome Joe Obad
8:35-9:00am Automated ATES Mapping Grant Statham & John Sykes
Grant Statham & John Sykes
Visitor Safety Specialist, Parks Canada & PhD Candidate, Simon Fraser University
Presentation Description
Automated ATES mapping provides objective, consistent, and efficient terrain ratings based purely on the physical characteristics of avalanche terrain. This research focuses on adapting an automated ATES model (autoATES) developed in Norway to the mountains of Western Canada. Two test sites, one in Rogers Pass, BC, and one in Bow Summit, AB, are used to optimize the model for the local terrain and demonstrate the overall accuracy of autoATES compared to human ATES mappers. This presentation will provide a brief background on the autoATES model, describe the validation process we undertook to evaluate the accuracy of autoATES, and demonstrate how autoATES can be applied as either a stand alone product for remote terrain or as a tool to increase efficiency for human mapping.
Bio
Grant:
Grant is an avalanche forecaster and rescuer with Parks Canada in Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks. Grant was an original author of the ATES system and continues to utilize avalanche terrain mapping and classification systems on a regular basis. His current goal is to update ATES to version two and then apply this to the national parks, where an automated ATES method (autoATES) will be extremely helpful. Grant has been an ACMG Mountain Guide and CAA Professional Member for 30 years and is an adjunct professor with the SFU Avalanche Research Program.
John:
John is a researcher with Pascal Haegeli’s Avalanche Research Program at SFU, focusing on avalanche terrain modelling and decision-making. His goal is to improve public avalanche safety by developing new tools for mapping avalanche terrain that can be used for trip planning and as a foundation for decision making tools. In addition to the automated ATES mapping research, he is also working on high resolution avalanche terrain modelling and GPS track analysis in collaboration with guides at CMH Galena. John completed his masters degree at Montana State University with Jordy Hendrikx. Prior to graduate school, John worked as an avalanche educator and mountaineering guide based in Anchorage, Alaska.
9:00-9:30am Insights Into Travel and Terrain Advice Katie Fisher
Katie Fisher
Graduate Student, Simon Fraser University
Presentation Description
I'll be presenting some results from the 2019-2020 avalanche forecast survey that show who is using the travel and terrain advice, how effective it is, and areas for improvement.
Bio
Katie is finishing up her master's degree with Pascal Haegeli and the SFU Avalanche Research Program. Her work has focused on testing the effectiveness of different elements of the avalanche bulletin. She'll be presenting some of her most recent results.
9:30-10:00am 2020-21 Avalanche Fatality Review Karl Klassen
Karl Klassen
Warning Service Manager, Avalanche Canada
Presentation Description
A review of avalanche fatalities for the season to date and analysis of notable fatal incidents.
Bio
Karl Klassen is an IFMGA Mountain Guide who has worked for Avalanche Canada since 2004, first as a forecaster, then as a forecasting operations supervisor, then as the Warning Service Manager.
10:00-10:30am February's Tricky Saharan Dust, Graupel, and Facets Layer
in the Aran Valley, Pyrenees, Spain Montse Bacardit
Montse Bacardit
Avalanche Forecaster, Centre Lauegi Aran - Conselh Generau Aran
Presentation Description
February 2021 in the Pyrenees was characterized by several Saharan dust outbreaks that successively deposited on the snowpack, creating a “tiramisu” layered structure. In this case study, we present two particular natural and accidental avalanche cycles that occurred on Feb, 12-13 and Feb 22-23 in Val d'Aran and nearby valleys in the Central Pyrenees related to the tricky Saharan dust/graupel/facets layer combo that was built from Feb, 6-7. Finally, we discuss the role of Saharan dust layers based on our experiences, as well as the character and persistence of graupel as a weak layer.
Bio Montse has a PhD in biology and has spent 10 years avalanche forecaster in Aran avalanche centre, located in the Central Pyrenees in Spain. We issue daily public avalanche bulletins for backcountry recreationists (see lauegi.report) and we are in charge of the avalanche forecast and control for two key highways in the valley. She is an ACNA (www.acna.cat) and Avalanche Canada AST instructor, UIMLA mountain leader, and is passionate about winter, mountains, and nature.
10:30-11:00am Weather Models for Canadian Avalanche and
Snow Safety Applications Uwe Gramann
Uwe Gramann
Practice Area Lead - Climate and Weather, RWDI
Presentation Description Weather models and their output are the backbone of any weather related decision making process in the avalanche industry. Today an array of platforms exist that offer output from a huge variety of weather models but almost no background information on any of them. As more and more models become available, even professional users become increasingly confused which models to use for which situation and what their benefits and drawbacks are. This talk will try to shed some light on some model basics and help distinguish the most important features of the most commonly used weather models in the avalanche industry in Canada.
Bio Uwe Gramann is a professional meteorologist and the Practice Area Lead for Climate and Weather at RWDI. Uwe started his career with Environment Canada where he helped develop the currently operational high-resolution GEM LAM weather model. He moved on to form his own weather consulting company where he developed the AlpineFX. Uwe also developed weather courses for a variety of applications including the Canadian Avalanche Association before joining RWDI, where he currently overlooks the technical development and innovation for the applied climatology and weather forecasting teams.
11:00-11:30pm A Mindset for Avalanche Education Courses Steve Conger
& Sean Zimmerman-Wall
Steve Conger & Sean Zimmerman-Wall
Snow Knowledge & AIARE
Presentation Description
An education mindset was drafted for use by instructors when selecting the appropriate terrain for the day's goals. It is meant to be used in conjunction with the terrain or strategic mindset during pre-field trip planning. The mindset intentionally combined the goals of Roger Atkin's strategic mindset being a deliberate de-biasing strategy, communication strategy, and necessitating that the instructor is self-aware about their desires for a particular field day and the avalanche education setting in general.
It was presented for use by AIARE instructors last fall. This presentation describes the proposed education mindset, shares feedback from its introduction, and invites comment.
Bio Steve is an avalanche consultant and CAA-ITP instructor living in Golden, BC. Sean is a ski patroller at Snowbird and serves as the AIARE Pro Program Director in the U.S.
11:30-12:00am Avalanche Canada Update Gilles Valade
Gilles Valade
Executive Director, Avalanche Canada
Presentation Description
An overview of the past year at Avalanche Canada.
Bio
Gilles has been the Executive Director of Avalanche Canada for eight years. Prior to coming to AvCan, he was the chair of the Adventure Studies Department at Thompson Rivers University.
12:00-12:30pm Common Ski Cutting Practices in Avalanche Operations
- First Results Bruce Jamieson
Bruce Jamieson
Consultant, Snowline Associates Ltd.
Presentation Description
Mark Vesely, Karl Birkeland, John Stimberis, Mike Sadan, and Bruce Jamieson canvassed 47 avalanche operations in Canada and the U.S. for their ski cutting practices. We summarize the common practices.
BioBruce Jamieson started avalanche work at the Fernie ski area in 1980. As a professor from 1997 to 2015, Bruce managed field studies of snow and avalanches. Now, when not sliding on snow or riding a two-wheeler on dirt trails, he works as an avalanche consultant and educator. His co-authors are Mark Vesely, Karl Birkeland, John Stimberis, and Mike Sadan.
Tuesday May 4th
8:30 am - 12:30 pm Producer: Brent Strand
8:30-8:35am CAA Welcome Joe Obad
8:35-9:00am A Deadly U.S. Avalanche Season: An Intersection Between an Unstable
Snowpack and a Global Pandemic Karl Birkeland
Karl Birkeland
Director, US Forest Service National Avalanche Center
Presentation DescriptionThis presentation will explore the trends and demographics of U.S. avalanche fatalities during the 2020/21 winter. We will look at the evolution of the snowpack nationally and the unusually widespread unstable conditions that existed through much of the season, particularly during February. We will also examine how the global pandemic may or may not have played a role in the avalanche accidents.
BioKarl has worked with snow and avalanches for 40 years, including time as a ski patroller, avalanche educator, backcountry avalanche forecaster, and avalanche researcher. He currently works as the Director of the U.S. Forest Service National Avalanche Center.
9:00-9:30am Colorado's 2021 Avalanche Year - The Worst Year Since...
We Don't Know When Ethan Greene
Ethan Greene
Director, Colorado Avalanche Information Center
Presentation DescriptionThe 2021 avalanche year in Colorado was dominated by an unfortunate confluence of people under stress and unusually tricky avalanche conditions. This combination pushed human/avalanche metrics to their limits and tied or broke all of the records no one wants to break. This presentation will provide an overview of the issues the backcountry community faced during this difficult winter, highlight the most important events, and describe how public and private groups tried to help backcountry travelers, warn and educate them about the danger, and stem the tied of avalanche accidents.
BioEthan has worked with snow and avalanches since 1990 and directed the CAIC since 2005. He grew up in Boulder exploring the mountains of Colorado. He has worked as a ski patroller (Big Sky, Montana) and as a backcountry avalanche forecaster (USFS Utah Avalanche Center). He studied meteorology (B.S., University of Utah), mountain weather, and snow-drift formation (M.S., Colorado State University), and snow metamorphism and microstructure (PhD, Colorado State University). Ethan has published a variety of articles and been a member of national and international working groups on snow, weather, and avalanche topics. Ethan lives in Leadville with his wife and two children.
9:30-10:00am Avalanche Detection in Glacier National Park Jeff Goodrich & Lisa Dreier
Jeff Goodrich & Lisa Dreier
Avalnche Operations Coordinator, Parks Canada & Project Manager, Wyssen Canada Inc.
Presentation Description
The presentation will focus on how the Avalanche Detection Network (ADN) affects avalanche forecasting and control operations in Glacier National Park with the experience of three winter seasons. We will also give a short review of the technology and the layout of the network in Glacier National Park. The ADN was installed in the fall of 2018 and completed in the summer of 2019. The network consists of 13 infrasound avalanche detection arrays and four long-range avalanche radars, and is the largest of its kind.
BioLisa grew up in South Germany and started backcountry skiing in her early teens in the Alps. She worked as an IT engineer before studying glide-snow avalanches in her Masters and diving into the avalanche world. She worked with the development team of the avalanche simulation software RAMMS at the Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanches for a few years before spending a winter season in the Japanese Alps followed by a winter season in Canada which turned into more than four years now. Lisa runs the operations for Wyssen Avalanche Control in Canada. She forecasts for Avalanche Canada and volunteers in the local Search and Rescue team. Her new home is Revelstoke where she lives with her partner and enjoys skiing, mountain biking, climbing and the occasional cold dip in the Columbia River.
10:00-10:30am After the Rescue: How Emotional Trauma Effects the
Avalanche Rescuer Dave Richards
Dave Richards
Avalanche Program Director, Alta Ski Area
Presentation Description
A personal look at experience with stress injuries and PTSD as a result of a career in avalanche rescue.
Bio
Dave has 20 years experience ski patrolling, heli guiding, and in mountain rescue. He is a Level A dog handler and has spent six years in his current position
10:30-11:00am Apps for Avalanches Mike Smallwood
Mike Smallwood
Senior Avalanche Technician, Parks Canada
Presentation Description
A review of the first year of operational use of mobile and web GIS applications for recording, sharing, and interpreting avalanche activity at the Glacier National Park Avalanche Control Section. The presentation looks at what worked, what challenges remain, and why we'll keep using them.
BioMike is a technician and technologist at Rogers Pass, where he is lucky to be able to combine experience from ski patrolling, GIS, and engineering, and still get some skiing in.
11:00-11:30am ISSW Brings a RACS to Fernie Alpine Resort Ben Jackman
Ben Jackman
Avalanche Forecaster, Fernie Alpine Resort
Presentation Description
This is the story of a multi-stakeholder effort to install a RACS system at Fernie Alpine Resort.
BioHaving worked primarily in the ski area sector since 2004 in various continents, Ben is currently working as an Avalanche Forecaster at Fernie Alpine Resort.
11:30-12:00am Interactive Visualizations for Avalanche Hazard Assessment Stan Nowak
Stan Nowak
PhD Candidate, Simon Fraser University
Presentation Description
This talk will present several interactive data visualization prototypes developed for Avalanche Canada's AvID project. Key design features, application scenarios, and lessons learned will be covered.
BioStan is a PhD candidate studying visual analytics applications for operational avalanche forecasting and hazard assessment at Simon Fraser University.
12:00-12:30am Anticipating Persistent Problems in Coastal Areas - Lessons From
Operational Snowpack Modelling This Season Simon Horton
Simon Horton
Postdoc, Simon Fraser University & Public Forecaster, Avalanche Canada
Presentation Description
How reliable are snowpack models? This winter, Avalanche Canada’s experimental snowpack model visualizations provided accurate insights into a tricky period on the SW coast in February, but mishandled another tricky period in December. I will highlight the benefits and challenges of models from a forecaster’s perspective.
BioSimon is a public forecaster with Avalanche Canada and currently does research on computer assisted forecasting with the SFU Avalanche Research Program
Wednesday May 5th 8:30 am - 12:30 pm Producer: Brent Strand
8:30-8:35am CAA Welcome Joe Obad
8:35-9:00am The Adaption of Canadian Avalanche Safety Tools in a Swedish Context,
Past and Present Mattias Tarestad and Stefan Martensson
Mattias Tarestad and Stefan Martenssons
National Avalanche Safety Advisor - SEPA & Avalanche Forecaster
Presentation DescriptionAn overview of the adaption and implementation of different Canadian avalanche safety tools, systems, and methods in the Swedish avalanche industry.
BioNational Avalanche Safety Advisor - SEPA (Current)
SVELAV Avalanche Education Program Manager (Current)
Avalanche Forecaster (Current)
Former avalanche consultant, avalanche educator, ski patroller
9:00-9:30am Recreationists Use of Social Media and How it Applies to Decision
Making in Avalanche Terrain Amelie Goulet-Boucher
Amelie Goulet-Boucher
Masters Student, Simon Fraser University
Presentation Description
There used to be a straight-forward path for getting avalanche information: a person would visit the Avalanche Canada website or phone the national parks to obtain the latest bulletin. Add to this process word-of-mouth and a person’s own observation as a recreationist, and that was the bulk of avalanche related information the public had access to. Nowadays, the information landscape is much more diverse and social media has become a pervasive information source in everybody’s lives, including backcountry recreationsists.
The goal of this study was to obtain insight about social media use among backcountry recreationists from a broad cross-section of the population and understand what platforms they are using, how they are using them, and how this information fits within their decision making. Our results will help Avalanche Canada and avalanche safety professionals improve the use of social media for avalanche risk communication, and everyone to better understand the communication traps that are associated with social media use in avalanche decision making.
BioAmelie is a master's student with the SFU Avalanche Research Program.
9:30-10:00am BC ARkSuperStorm Project: A New Impacts-Based Rating of Extratropical
Storms Applied to Avalanches Mindy Brugman
Mindy Brugman
Senior R&D Meteorologist, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Presentation Description
The goal of ARkSuperStorm project is to improve understanding on how to best identify, model and classify major extra-tropical cyclones for public safety forecasting applications. Additionally, the effect of climate change on the frequency and magnitude of atmospheric rivers (AR) is considered. The focus of this project is to examine the dynamics and impacts of the worst credible AR-related (~1/1000 year) storm (ARk) to affect western Canada and to improve our ability to mitigate risk and prepare for such an event. The focus of this presentation is on how this storm rating effort may be applied to Avalanche Safety decision making through impacts based weather forecasting. The aim is to help identify extreme weather events two weeks out, and to help Canadians prepare for the worst weather related impacts expected due to future global warming projections.
A 5-fold EC AR Storm classification system is proposed based on a variety of meteorological and storm impact criteria, which includes snow-related impacts. This paper provides an update on results to date and relevant case studies to demonstrate its value of rating storms to improve confidence in forecast of impactful events, and improve communication to user groups.
BioDr Melinda M Brugman (Mindy) has been a Senior Research and Development Meteorologist at the National Lab for Coastal & Mountain Meteorology of Prediction Services and Operations – West, Meteorological Services of Canada since 2010 and her job is to support operational forecasting and public safety. She is a MSC certified Meteorologist and has worked in public and aviation forecasting, avalanche weather forecasts, and snow level and precipitation product improvements since 2000. She obtained her PhD from the CalTech Department of Geological and Planetary Sciences in Pasadena, California, her B.S. in Atmospheric Sciences from University of Washington in Seattle, and worked as a student with the USGS in Washington, Oregon and Alaska on volcanoes and glaciers. She has been a ski patroller, ski instructor, and ski coach. She is is a mom who has lived in Canada since 1989, resides in Revelstoke, loves to hike, paddle and ski, is a dual Canadian-US Citizen, a PIPSC Union Steward, and is vice president of the Association of Women in Geosciences for the Pacific Northwest.
10:00-10:30am Avalanche forecasting in Newfoundland James Floyer & Andy Nichols
James Floyer & Andy Nichols
Forecasting Program Supervisor, Avalanche Canada & Field Technician, Avalanche Canada
Presentation Description
We describe a new initiative to bring public avalanche services to Newfoundland and Labrador. We place the context of avalanche hazard in Newfoundland and explain previous initiatives to provide avalanche services in NL. We explain why we believe this new approach is more likely to be successful. We describe the challenges and successes of the first operational winter season and explain plans for a pilot project for next season that will see avalanche forecasts delivered to western Newfoundland for the first time.
Bio
James has a PhD in snow science and has worked for Avalanche Canada since 2008. Andy is passionate about the mountains of Newfoundland and is spearheading Avalanche Canada's Newfoundland initiative.
10:30-11:00am Leadership, Inclusion and Risk in Mountain Professions Rachel Reimer
Rachel Reimer
Lead Researcher, Lotus Mountain
Presentation Description
Combining two qualitative data sets in leadership and inclusion from wildland fire (2016) and the guiding and avalanche profession (2019), this presentation highlights findings common between the two studies that are relevant to leaders of mountain-based teams striving for a high standard of inclusivity and risk management. New insights and applications into practical risk management applications arise as we deepen our understanding of the human side of our profession in the context of increasing volatility in environmental hazards related to climate change.
BioRachel blends theory and practice in mountain professions. She is a candidate in the Apprentice Ski Guide program with the ACMG and completed her CAA Level 2 in 2019. She also holds an MA in Leadership Studies, and is a PhD candidate working on the first international study into inclusion in mountain professions.
11:00-11:30am The Yukon Forecasting Region: Northern Operations During a Record
Snow Season James Minifie
James Minifie
Lead Field Technician, Yukon Field Progam, Avalanche Canada
Presentation Description
A look into the unique forecasting and field work that happens in the Yukon and far northwest corner of BC's White Pass, and what it was like getting that work done during a record snowfall year that brought 100 year avalanche cycles to life.
BioJames is an ACMG ski guide, lead field technician for Avalanche Canada in the Yukon, and owner of Skookum Backcountry Adventures in Whitehorse, YT.
11:30-12:00pm Explosives / Avalanche Control Braden Schmidt
Braden Schmidt
Technical Consultant Avalanche Products, CIL Explosives
Presentation Description
Every winter many avalanche workers use explosives daily in their jobs. The following presentation will go into the safety and how the products vary to help give us all a better understanding to help us do our jobs.
BioBraden has been working in the avalanche industry since 2003. He is a Professional Member of the American Avalanche Association, Canadian Avalanche Association, and International Society of Explosive Engineers. If he cant be skiing powder or wind sift, the next best thing is causing large avalanche with explosives.
12:00-12:30pm Upcoming Changes to Part 21 of the Occupational Health and Safety
Regulation Revisited Chris Elliott
Chris Elliott
Blasting Certification Officer, WorkSafeBC
Presentation Description
WorkSafeBC is currently considering making amendments to Part 21 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation: Blasting Operations. These changes may affect operators in British Columbia who use explosives to control avalanches. This presentation will address the proposed amendments with a focus on changes and concerns that could affect the avalanche industry.
Proposed changes include: changes to definitions, new requirements for operators to have a written plan, specific requirements for blasting logs, requirements for technical data sheets in the workplace, prerequisites for certification, requirements for continuing education, a prohibition on using igniter cord for safety fuses assemblies, changes to legal responsibilities, and a new requirement for avalanche operations to separate primed charges from other charges to ensure the pull-wire igniter is not accidentally placed on the wrong safety fuse assembly.
If approved, these changes will take effect as early as this fall and will be enforced for the 2021/2022 ski season.
BioA blasting supervisor and technician with 20 years industry experience, Chris joined WorkSafeBC five years ago in his role as a Certification Officer. An avid skier and snowboarder, Chris expanded on his avalanche knowledge from his AST 1 to the CAA's Avalanche Operations 1. In his current role he administers blasting exams for avalanche techs, investigates blasting incidents, and reviews employer's avalanche control procedures.
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