Simon Trautman grew up running around in hay fields outside of Lander, Wyoming. Following a stint as a US Navy Corpsman, he earned a BS in Geology at Western Washington University and an MS in Earth Science from Montana State University. His research focused on wet snow avalanche phenomena. He has worked as an avalanche forecaster for the Moonlight Basin Ski Patrol, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, and the Sawtooth Avalanche Center (where he served as the Director from 2012-2014). Simon joined the National Avalanche Center in the summer of 2014. Simon is the current acting director of the National Avalanche Center. In this episode, we chat about the history of US avalanche centers, the role of the NAC in guiding US avalanche centers in a common direction, and some of the recent developments of the Avalanche Center Dashboard. Simon explains what goes into writing an avalanche forecast, and the best way for the public to use the forecast.

Music by Ketsa

www.avalanche.org

Backcountry Avalanche Forecasts Explained:

https://youtu.be/UJTynkEwllY

An Introduction to the North American Danger Scale: https://youtu.be/r_-KpOu7tbA

Avalanche Problems Explained:

https://youtu.be/DkbnT_9-cHU

Braille Mountain Initiative Climbathon: https://www.braillemountaininitiative.com/climb-a-thon