In Episode 10.3, Jake Hutchinson sits down with Tom Kimbrough to bring us our first Bio of a Legend this season. 

Roshi is the Japanese word for “zen master” or “old master.” For a generation or two of Wasatch avalanche hunters, Tom is both the old master and the zen master. His holistic approach to assessing risk in snow covered mountains is a culmination of a life as a curious avalanche hunter, public forecaster, climbing ranger and avalanche educator.

Tom’s career spans work on the Alpine Meadows and Alta Ski Patrols, a Jenny Lake Climbing Ranger, forecaster at the Utah Avalanche Center and instructor for the American Avalanche Institute. One of the first things Kimbrough learned about climbing was that climbers tended to be skiers in the winter. After a season on the lift crew at Badger Pass in Yosemite he graduated to the ski patrol. Soon he was patrolling at Alpine Meadows in Tahoe. Alta was next on his list and in 1987 he began working for the Utah Avalanche Center. He finished his avalanche career with Rod Newcomb’s American Avalanche Institute.

In this episode, Jake and Tom talk about:

• The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche Accident

• Humility in the mountains

• Zen and the art of avalanche forecasting

A note from Jake: “More than once we mention Rod Newcomb in this episode. Between sitting down with Tom and the release of this episode, we lost Rod at the ripe old age of 91.  Rod was a friend, mentor and pioneer in our industry.  He shaped avalanche education in the US and was the first to see the need for pro specific education.  His influence on Tom, myself and so many others cannot be overstated.  A long life fully lived, thanks for everything Rod.”

Thanks to the sponsors of the show.

Legacy Sponsors:

Darren Johnson Avalanche Education Memorial Fund

AVSS

Drone Amplified

Partner Sponsors:

CIL Avalanche

Safeback

onX Backcountry

Episode Sponsor:

Avalanche Risk Solutions

Music: Ketsa

Artwork: Mike Tea 

Production: Caleb Merrill, Bob Keating