It's been a rough week. I hope you can smile while remembering Matt Primomo through listening to our interview from a few years ago.

We lost another great human and avalanche professional last week- Nick Burks. A call to action of our community to reach out to The Avalanche Hour with stories of Nick that can be recorded and put together into a podcast episode. Email [email protected] to find out how to get involved.

Music by Ketsa. https://ketsa.uk/

Go Fund Me for Stella and Milo:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/supporting-stella-and-milo

Resources for Grief and Support: Thanks to the help of Erin Good of Updraft Counseling for providing these descriptions.

Responder Alliance - works to build awareness of stress injury and increase resilience for folks who work in austere environments. Please note they are largely focused on prevention, however many of the resources and tools are very applicable and provide a good foundation for having conversations around stress and trauma. https://www.responderalliance.com/

Climbing Grief Fund, American Alpine Club - CGF hosts a therapist directory and offers individual grants of up to $600 to individuals who have experienced grief or trauma related to climbing, alpinism, or ski mountaineering. You do not have to be a member of the American Alpine Club to apply for a CGF grant. https://americanalpineclub.org/grieffund

American Avalanche Association - The A3 Avalanche Resilience Project also hosts a therapist directory with folks who have familiarity with the industry. A3 also offers a "resilience grant" of up to $500 to Professional and Affiliate members who are interested in pursuing therapy. https://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/resilience-project

Survivors of Outdoor Adventures and Recovery (SOAR) - SOAR offers professionally-facilitated peer support groups for folks who have experienced loss or trauma in the outdoors. I just attended one of their community connection workshops on grief and trauma and found it very helpful. Get in touch with this wonderful organization!

http://soar4life.org/

Mountain Muskox - For our northern friends, Mountain Muskox is a fantastic organization that offers professionally-facilitated in person peer support circles in BC and Alberta. They also offer a weekend gathering each fall. https://www.mountainmuskox.com/

The Redside Foundation - Redside provides funding for guides who are in need of medical or mental health care. They do not provide counseling directly, but rather they will pay for up to eight therapy sessions for guides in need. While they focus on individuals who live in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. If you don't live in one of these states, don't let it stop you from getting in touch. They will help!

https://www.redsidefoundation.org/

Bigger Than The Trail - BTTT is an organization that uses trail running as a platform to talk about mental health. They also offer scholarships to folks who experience financial barriers to individual therapy. BTTT will pay for up to eight therapy sessions, however please note they do not have a directory - they work with existing platforms such as BetterHelp or Calmerry, so the therapist may or may not have a familiarity with outdoor / backcountry pursuits. Still, it is a great option for someone who needs support.

https://www.bttt.run/support

In this episode, Caleb sits down with Jayson Simons-Jones. We chat about Jayson's career as an IFMGA Mountain Guide, a guide service owner, an avalanche educator, and now his new role as the Recreation Education Manager for the American Avalanche Association. Jayson provides thoughtful insights and reflection on how he approaches bringing a deep sense of meaning and connection while taking people skiing in the backcountry. We dive into some of the key points of a great article he wrote for The Avalanche Review titled: Group Communication and Decision Making Tactics. We chat about his new role at the A3 and some of his goals within the position. We wrap up the hour with Jayson sharing some nuggets of wisdom through lessons delivered to him in the backcountry.

Group Communication and Decision-Making Tactics TAR 39.4 Page 34:

https://theavalanchereview.org/tar-39-4/

We hope you enjoy.

Music by Ketsa www.ketsa.uk

Support for this episode is provided by:

Wyssen Avalanche Control www.wyssenavalanche.com

Gordini USA www.gordini.com

OpenSnow www.opensnow.com

RecPak www.recpak.co

Want to level up your tour planning game? Check out www.mtnmapping.com and use code: THEAVALANCHEHOUR to receive 30% off the $25 annual subscription. Thanks Will McKay for putting this great resource together!

Ep 8.20 Mentorship and community building

What is mentorship? How does it strengthen a community? Is mentorship even the right word? Let’s dive in…

Backcountry skiing and riding can be an intimidating sport to get into. We all know the avalanche and first aid courses are a must, but it can be hard to connect with more experienced backcountry users to practice the skills. How does a person find that mentorship of a more experienced backcountry traveler and build a community of like minded people interested in getting after it and safely shredding the pow?

There are organizations around North America (and probably around the world) dedicated to helping new backcountry skiers and riders make those connections. Tune in for conversations with the fine folks from such organizations as The Avalanche Awareness Beyond the Boundaries Society, Ascent Mentorships, State of the Snowpack, and Colour the Trails. Respectively, these organizations open doors and create opportunities specifically for youth, for women, for all backcountry users in a specific locale, and for Black, Indigenous and People of Colour. These organizations provide mentorship in different ways: in a course setting, one-on-one, in a live event setting, and in a group. They are a small selection of the awesome groups creating opportunities for new backcountry users, and creating community in the process. Several other organizations are referenced in the episode. They are listed below.

This podcast is all about creating a stronger community amongst those with a curious fascination with avalanches. If you have an organization in your area that is doing great work opening doors, providing opportunities and building community – share it in the comments below this episode, or on the related Instagram post. Thanks for being part of that community!

You can find our guests on social media at:

https://www.facebook.com/AvalancheAwarenessBeyondBoundaries/

@kootenaymountainculture

https://www.facebook.com/ascentmentors/

https://www.ascentmentors.ca/

@stateofthesnowpack

@colourthetrails

@jujumil

Other groups referenced in the episode:

@mountain.mentors

@incluskivity

@theladyalliance

@aiare_official

@ilsacrew

@hoodstowoods

@mwv_icefest

@phil_henderson

Other episodes referenced in the episode:

5:18 – Mt.Jumbo, Missoula Montana

6:23 – Graeme Marshal, High School Avalanche education

8.1 – Ken Wylie, IFMGA mountain guide.

6.11 – Judson Wright

5.13 – Keith Robine

4.4 Brenden Cronin

Music for this episode by Gravy @gravy.tunes

www.wyssenavalanche.com

www.gordini.com

https://opensnow.com/

https://www.safeback.no/

In this episode, Caleb sits down with forecaster Blase Reardon. Blase talks about his experiences public avalanche forecasting at the Sawtooth Avalanche Center, CAIC, and the Flathead Avalanche Center where he is currently the Director. He reflects on operational forecasting in the early days of the forecasting program for the Going To The Sun road at Glacier National Park. Blase has contributed in many ways to our community. We are stronger as a result of people like Blase being so engaged. He is a mentor, a tireless forecaster, an educator, and contributes with his writing degree as a former editor of The Avalanche Review and author/editor of the latest edition of The Snowy Torrents. Tune in with us for this great conversation!

Music by Gravy

Link to buy tickets for the A3 D5 Sweepstakes: https://www.tapkat.org/american-avalanche-association/KkqZL9

In this episode, Sean Zimmerman-Wall sits down with John Littleton.

John's passion is teaching people about snow science and how to travel safely in the mountains. He is a US Navy Veteran and an American Institute for Avalanche Research & Education (AIARE) Course Leader and Instructor Trainer. John holds his AIARE Level 3 Certification and is a professional member of the American Avalanche Association. Having called Lake Tahoe home for almost 20 years. John has been both a Professional Ski Patroller at Palisades Ski Resort and an Outdoor Educator teaching Experiential Education at the Primary, Secondary, and College levels.

Support for this episode was provided by

Wyssen Avalanche Control

Gordini USA

OpenSnow

IPA Collective

Sunshine is a certified ski guide, avalanche educator, river guide, father, and husband who currently lives in Colorado's Roaring Fork Valley. He talks about his early days of backcountry skiing in Colorado before exploring Oregon's Wallowa Mountains as a ski guide for Wallowa Alpine Huts. 10 years ago, Sunshine was guiding a group of guests out of the Schneider Cabin on the South flank of Cornucopia Peak when an avalanche was triggered and tragically took the lives of one of his guests and his tail guide. Sunny spent the night with two other guests who were critically injured before being evacuated the next day. Through our discussion, he provides an honest reflection of the event and of the process of moving forward with his life and guiding career. We are grateful for his contribution to our community through sharing his story, which will undoubtedly help others.

EPISODE 8.16

Experience a unique adventure in this episode as Tele Mike and Brooke take us from the exhilarating rush of heated side-by-sides to the awe-inspiring helicopter rides over Alaska's snowy peaks. This episode isn't just about skiing; it's a profound journey of transformation and discovery.

Tele Mike's story begins on the East Coast, where a life-altering moment reshaped his destiny. Witnessing the fall of the Twin Towers firsthand, he was engulfed in a moment of introspection, realizing the fragility of life and the importance of pursuing one's passions. This epiphany led him to Colorado just four months later, where he plunged headfirst into the world of skiing.

From an enthusiastic instructor to an adept practitioner of ski mountaineering, Tele Mike's evolution is a narrative of resilience, passion, and an unbreakable bond with the mountains. He shares his rich experiences, discussing not just the thrills and spills but also the critical moments of close calls and rescues that define the spirit of mountaineering.

Join us in this inspiring episode as Tele Mike and Brooke bring the exhilarating world of skiing to life, sharing stories that resonate with adventure, life lessons, and the unyielding call of the wild.

About Tele Mike:

“Tele Mike” Russell has never seen a snowcapped mountain that he did not want to climb and ski. Fierce and soulful, Tele Mike is a big mountain Telemark Skier who is passionate about climbing technical routes and skiing exposed backcountry mountain descents on a global scale.

Tele Mike finds gratitude and restitution in guiding and showing anyone how to access the beauty of the mountain in a way that is safe, connected, empowering, and accessible, regardless of ability levels. His ultimate motivation is to amplify ALL voices in the backcountry ski community regardless of an individual’s labels or demographics. And due to his African and Native American heritage, Tele Mike has meticulously curated many mountain experiences for BIPOC communities in an effort to provide positive mountain experiences to underrepresented groups, in an effort to bring about sustained physical and mental wellbeing, and inner peace, while overcoming generational fears of open spaces.

Tele Mike also loves to use his artistry to create short cinematic heartfelt mountain adventure films to show people of color that there are other people adventuring in the mountains who look like them, enjoying safe open spaces.

https://us.scarpa.com/community/blog/article/mentee-spotlight-michael-russell

Socials:

The Avalanche hour Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/theavalanchehourpodcast/

Guest - https://www.instagram.com/tele.mike

Links:

To learn more about Mike, check out his mentee profile at the link below:

https://www.scarpa.com/community/athletes/mike-russell

Here Just a Few Of Mike’s Adventures:

Lumpy Ridge:

https://vimeo.com/395827392/4489393b93

Tele Heli Skiing Alaska:

https://vimeo.com/516090629/a72873871d

Freedom Land:

https://vimeo.com/430556554/9708078b8e

Keep Loving the People:

https://vimeo.com/417072442/e150445532

Sponsors for this episode:

Wyssen : https://www.wyssenavalanche.com/en/

OpenSnow - https://opensnow.com/ (Code: AvalanchePodcast)

Gordini - https://gordini.com/

Safeback -

Crew:

Host - Brooke “Shiny” Edwards

Producer - Cameron Griffin - https://www.instagram.com/backcountrycam/

Donate:

The Avalanche Hour Podcast - https://www.theavalanchehour.com/donate

The American Avalanche Association - https://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/donate

Music:

Ketsa - intro: solstice shack out/shaolin dub

Ketsa - outro: run come/shaolin dub

EPISODE 8.15

Martin Heuberger and daughter Anna(featured in episode 6.15) joins Matthias for an in-depth conversation. They explore the journey of this pioneering Austrian who ventured into the Canadian Rockies for heli-skiing. Heuberger delves into the challenges he faced in establishing a heli-ski operation, including learning the intricate processes involved. The journey was not without its hardships, as he recounts incidents of helicopters being lost and delayed rescue missions. Consequently, he collaborated with various operations to implement check-in procedures, utilizing radios to enhance the safety of crews working in the area.

He speaks openly and with vivid detail about encountering physical trauma and how individuals persevered through tough circumstances. He also sheds light on his collaboration with Mike Wiegele, highlighting their significant contributions to the growth and evolution of the heli-skiing industry. Additionally, Heuberger discusses the valuable lessons he brought back to Austria, such as advanced snow profiling techniques.

Socials:

The Avalanche hour Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/theavalanchehourpodcast/

Guest - https://www.instagram.com/

Links:

Stress Measurement Study - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165232X14002079

Sponsors for this episode:

Wyssen : https://www.wyssenavalanche.com/en/

OpenSnow - https://opensnow.com/ (Code: AvalanchePodcast)

Gordini - https://gordini.com/

Crew:

Host - Matthias Walcher

Host - Anna Heuberger

Producer - Cameron Griffin - https://www.instagram.com/backcountrycam/

Donate:

The Avalanche Hour Podcast - https://www.theavalanchehour.com/donate

The American Avalanche Association - https://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/donate

Music:

Gravy - Wildhorse

In this episode, I sit down with Josh Jespersen. Josh is the deputy director of operations at the Silverton Avalanche School, an IFMGA guide, and a former Navy Seal. We talk about his experience transitioning to civilian life, and how adventures in the mountains helped create perspective and purpose. Josh climbed and skied all of Colorado's 54 14ers in a record-breaking duration of 138 days, and we discuss how he worked to manage risk with such an objective-driven goal. He is the founder and president of Veteran's Outdoor Advocacy Group, an organization that works to enable access to outdoor adjunct therapies for all Veterans in need. We chat about why this is so important, and how the snow, avalanche, and guiding communities can get involved. We hope you enjoy our conversation.

Music by Ketsa

Veteran's Outdoor Advocacy Group:

www.voag.org

Thank you to the sponsors of this episode:

Wyssen Avalanche Control

Gordini USA

Open Snow

IPA Collective

In this episode, we start the hour by chatting with Joel Gratz, head meteorologist and founder of OpenSnow. Joel tells us why he started OpenSnow and how it can help streamline your weather analysis process to help lead you to your deepest days in the resort or favorite backcountry location. I then sit down with William Sherman of Safeback. Will is originally from Colorado, but now lives in Norway where he works for Safeback. For the last 6 years, Safeback has been developing a product to help extend the avalanche survival curve for victims buried under the snow who have a patent airway. Will explains the thorough independent research that backs the efficacy of the Safeback SBX product, we discuss how it works and how it is integrated into backpacks and vests. He is transparent about the limitations of the system and recognizes that new technology simply can't take the place of conservative decision-making in an uncertain backcountry environment. We hope you enjoy the episode!

Music by Ketsa

https://www.safeback.no/articles/product-testing/eurac-research-conduct-independent-medical-trial-of-safeback-sbx

Support for this episode is provided by:

Wyssen Avalanche Control

Gordini USA

OpenSnow

Use code: avalanchepodcast at www.opensnow.com to receive 30% off an all access year subscription to OpenSnow.