Salt Lake Snowcast

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I’ve been talking with my friend Zack throughout this Winter about what I might be missing on the podcast. He’s done a few episodes with me about preparedness in the mountains and we realized that last year, when we did an episode on gear, we kind of missed the bigger topic of knowing how to use all that gear. So, I invited him back on the Snowcast to chat about the importance of education. We'll chat about medical knowledge and avalanche training. A mentor of mine always used to tell me that the best way to get invited on ski trips, expeditions, and a day out in the mountains was to be the best ski partner possible. This means showing up on time, ready to go, and with a solid skill set. 

Major appreciation to SkiMo Co. for supporting the podcast this year. With warm temps in the forecacst, I recommend you stop by for a spring wax. The last thing you want is to get gloppy out there!

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This might not be the episode you want to hear, but I think it's the episode that some people might need to hear. Sometimes, you don't need to go backcountry skiing. It's ok to take a break. It's ok to sleep in, go to the resort, or go lap Patsy Trees. If you do decide to go into the backcountry, take pause and recognize the risk you're taking. Ask yourself why you decided to engage with an activity that has significant risk to you and other people. Today's episode is filled with honesty, vulnerability, and some hard truths.

Thanks to everyone who continues to support the Salt Lake Snowcast. I appreciate every message, download, stream, and thumbs up. Extra shout out to SkiMo Co for being by my side on this roller coaster of a Winter that we're having.

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Happy Valentine's Day to the Wasatch! On today's episode, I'll interview Derek Cragun, a mental health therapist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and avid backcountry skier about one of the more interesting topics I've covered on the Salt Lake Snowcast. Skiing with the person you love can be amazing...and also challenging at times. Derek and I will talk about tips and tricks for improving the backcountry experience between you and your spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, partner, significant other, ski partner who you have a crush on, etc. I've heard a lot of people make some jokes about this topic over the years and it was refreshing to hear from a professional about why this is actually such an important topic. It's an episode that's relevant to everyone and you don't want to miss it!

There's a lot to be excited about if you look at the weather forecast. With the door wide open for snow, it feels like Winter has finally decided to make an appearance. With changing conditions comes uncertainty so be cautious heading into the next active period of weather. 

Shoutout to SkiMo Co. for being an amazing partner this Winter. They just helped the Snowcast and Wasatch Backcountry Alliance put on the first Close Calls Forum and were fantastic hosts to a well attended event. We hope to see you at the next one!

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Jack Stauss is back on the Salt Lake Snowcast today to talk about all things transportation related to Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons. There have been some pretty huge updates since the last time we covered this topic and I hope people tune in to become informed about this crucial local issue. Don't forget about the Close Calls Forum happening on Thursday, Feb 12 at 6:30pm. The event will be hosted at SkiMo Co who have been so supportive of the Snowcast this year, stepping in as presenting sponsor for all of our episodes. I hope to see you there, I'll even have stickers!

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On today’s episode, I’ll be talking with local skier Fern Hardin about an avalanche accident she was involved in last year in the Ruby Mountains of Nevada while skiing Terminal Cancer Couloir. We’ll talk about what went wrong, what she learned, and how she approaches things differently after the accident. I won’t say too much more as I want Fern to tell the story. Stay tuned to the end of the episode for an exciting announcement about an upcoming event I’ll be hosting this Winter!

I sincerely appreciate Fern’s willingness to speak about this accident in a public setting. Hopefully, her insight and reflection can help keep others safe and encourage more people in our amazing community to share their own learnings. 

Thanks to SkiMo Co for supporting the Snowcast this season! Without their support, we wouldn’t be able to hear stories like the one from Fern. Be sure to stop by the shop and grab a Salt Lake Snowcast sticker the next time you’re in the area!

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Welcome back to Season 3 of the Salt Lake Snowcast! I couldn't be more excited to get this show on the road (or skintrack!) for this Winter. I have some great things lined up for the pod this year. One of my favorite things about running the Snowcast is that I can keep things topical and relevant. So, looking at the calendar, realizing we were more than halfway through December and I hadn’t published an episode yet, I began to think about motivation. It’s been an interesting start to the Winter in the Salt Lake area mountains and it seems like everyone I talk to is struggling, in one way or another, with motivating to go out and ski.  So, I thought it was about time to record an episode on motivation and what to do with yourself when you just can’t get in the car and drive to the trailhead. Joining me to talk about this is AMGA Ski Guide and owner/operator of the Mountain Training Center Will McKay. I also want to officially announce that SkiMo Co is now the presenting sponsor of the Salt Lake Snowcast. I am so thrilled to be partnering with them this Winter. I'll try to keep the checkout area at the shop stocked with stickers, so be sure to stop in and tell them thanks for supporting the show.

Will has also given listeners a discount code for the Mountain Training Center: SNOWCAST

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When most Wasatch skiers were starting to put their skis away for the Season, local crusher Mali Noyes set out on one of the most challenging efforts I've seen in the Wasatch in recent memory: skiing all Chuting Gallery lines as fast as possible. Accomplishing her goal of all 93 lines in just 47 days, Mali not only pushed herself, but also pushed the limits of what's capable in our beloved local mountains. I'll catch up with Mali in this episode to talk about the project and hear what it's like to handle so much steep skiing, exposure, and risk in such a short amount of time.

I’m not sure how many more episodes I’ll publish before the start of next Winter. So thanks everyone for all the listens, streams, downloads, follows, and most importantly the supporters on the Buy Me a Coffee website. The user supported model for small creative projects like this one is a great way to support your local community. The Salt Lake Snowcast is also supported by Alpha Coffee. If you visit Alpha, make sure you mention the Salt Lake Snowcast and you’ll get a free sticker! Don't forget to send this episode to your friends and hit subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Thanks for the love and we'll be back soon!

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The Salt Lake Snowcast is back this weekend with an interview with Sam Kapacinksas. Sam will be sharing a story with us from an avalanche in 2016 that he was caught and carried in, and then walked away from mostly unscathed. We'll talk about how that day has influenced his trajectory as a backcountry skier. It’s honestly been one of my favorite interviews I’ve done on the Salt Lake Snowcast. Before we jump into that, I’ll give a quick update on backcountry conditions and avalanche hazard. A big storm is on deck for this later week so enjoy the sunshine while we have it. March is always my favorite month of the year so don't give up on Winter yet!

UAC report from the Birthday Chutes Avalanche.

Salt Lake Tribune article

Avalanche Hour podcast Part 1

Avalanche Hour podcast Part 2

The Salt Lake Snowcast is supported by Alpha Coffee. If you visit Alpha, make sure you mention the Salt Lake Snowcast and you’ll get a free sticker! Another way to support the show is to become a member via buymeacoffee.com/saltlakesnowcast. You can also share the podcast with your friends and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for the love and we'll be back soon!

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After short break last week, the Snowcast is back today to talk about current conditions. I'm joined on the show by my friend, local guide, and avalanche forecaster Cody Hughes. Talking with Cody last week, we both had the same gut feeling about our snowpack: it's dangerous, complex, and makes us both uncomfortable. Our goal with this weekend's episode is to share some knowledge and do our part to help the community understand what's going on in the snow. Tune in for a passionate and vulnerable conversation. Have a safe weekend everybody.

The Salt Lake Snowcast is supported by Alpha Coffee. If you visit Alpha, make sure you mention the Salt Lake Snowcast and you’ll get a free sticker! Another way to support the show is to become a member via buymeacoffee.com/saltlakesnowcast. You can also share the podcast with your friends and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for the love and we'll be back soon!

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On today's episode, I'm joined by Utah Avalanche Center Forecaster Craig Gordon. As one of the more recognizable people in Utah's backcountry scene, I've been looking forward to chatting with Craig ever since I started the podcast. We'll talk about Craig's backstory and how he came to be an avy forecaster before a discussion on our current snowpack.

You can stop by Ecker Middle School next Tuesday, February 11th at 6:30pm for a more in depth State of the Snowpack conversation with Craig.

Learn more about Craig's story here. 

The Salt Lake Snowcast is supported by Alpha Coffee. I regularly stop by both their shops—at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon and downtown at 111 S Main Street. Alpha offers a great breakfast and lunch, as well as wine and beer, making it my favorite stop both before or after ski tours. If you visit Alpha, make sure you mention the Salt Lake Snowcast and you’ll get a free sticker! Another way to support the show is to become a member via buymeacoffee.com/saltlakesnowcast. You can also share the podcast with your friends and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for the love and we'll be back soon!