The Avalanche Journal: Volume 106

the

Remote Avalanche Control Systems 22 InfoEx 27

106 // S 2014

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Avalanche Control Technology & Mountain Safety Systems / www.avateksystems.ca 04/04/2014 2:09:08 PM

CANADIAN AVALANCHE ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Robb Andersen Vice-President Aaron Beardmore Secretary/Treasurer Rob Elliott

CAA Executive Director

Membership Committee Chair Richard Miller

Joe Obad

Director for Professional Members Amber Wood

CAA Interim Operations Manager

Director for Active Members Zuzana Driediger

& Member Services

Director for Affiliate Members Dave Dornian

Stuart Smith

Director for Associate Members John Martland

Comptroller COMMITTEES

Janis Borden

Audit Committee

Sylvia Forest

InfoEx Advisory Group

Professional Practices

Phil Hein (Chair)

Janice Johnson

Brad Harrison (Chair)

Committee

Bruce Allen

Bob Sayer

Jim Bay

Aaron Beardmore (Co-Chair)

Jack Bennetto

Iain Stewart-Patterson

Todd Guyn

Doug Wilson (Co-Chair)

Anton Horvath

Steve Conger

Steve Blake John Hetherington

Explosives Committee

Karl Klassen

Brendan Martland

Bruce Jamieson

Scott Aitken (Chair)

Niki LePage

Tony Sittlinger

Bill Mark

Jim Bay

Tanya McKinney

Helene Steiner

Peter Schaerer

Todd Guyn

Joshua Milligan

Rupert Wedgwood

Chris Stethem

Kyle Hale

Lisa Paulson

Niko Weis

Dave Iles

Mike Rubenstein

Joe Lammers

Technical Committee Cam Campbell (Chair)

Conduct Review

Steve Morrison

Membership Committee

James Floyer

Committee

Bernie Protsch

Richard Miller (Chair)

Scott Garvin

Rupert Wedgwood (Interim Chair) Craig Sheppard

Mark Austin

Bruce Jamieson

Peter Amann

Matthew Foley

Dave McClung

George Field

Governance Committee

Mike Koppang

Bob Sayer

Brian Gould

Robb Andersen (Chair)

Yvonne Thornton

Rob Whelan

Chris Stethem Education Committee

Phil Hein

Steve Conger (Chair)

Debbie Ritchie

John Buffery

John Tweedy

Cam Campbell

Bookkeeper Julie Matteau IT Support Specialist Luke Norman Interim ITP Manager Bridget Daughney ITP Student Services Audrey Defant ITP Logistics Jami Kruger Managing Editor & Communications Specialist Karilyn Kempton Publications & Properties Brent Strand Reception Dee Dee Eresman

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses, change of address and subscription orders to: Canadian Avalanche Association PO Box 2759, Revelstoke BC V0E2S0 Email: publish@avalanche.ca Publications Mail Agreement No. 40830518 Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index ISSN 1929-1043

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CONTENTS SPRING 2014

COVER JUSTIN ABBISS // CONTENTS JORDAN MATTHEW

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in this issue FIRST TRACKS FRONT LINES 8 CAA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE 9 CAA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR`S REPORT 10 MEET THE AVALANCHE JOURNAL ADVISORY GROUP BOARD 11 WHAT A CHANGE IN BLASTING CAP SIZE MEANS FOR YOU 12 USING GIS FOR AVALANCHE SEARCH AND RESCUE 14 MOTI WEATHER NETWORK PROGRAM: 1977 TO PRESENT DAY 18 AVALANCHE PREDICTION MODELLING 22 REMOTE AVALANCHE CONTROL SYSTEMS: HIGH TECH ON THE MOUNTAIN 27 WHAT'S NEXT FOR INFOEX 28 CHECKING IN ON INFOEX 30 SO WHAT DO SUBSCRIBERS HAVE TO SAY? 34 KEEPING TABS: GETTING MORE OUT OF TABULAR INFOEX DATA EDUCATION AND AWARENESS 36 IMPORTANT AVSAR CURRICULUM CHANGES 38 FLIPPING THE AVALANCHE OPERATIONS LEVEL 1 CLASSROOM 39 ADDING VALUE TO THE CAC OBSERVER NETWORK 40 MAPPING THE SLACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE COMMUNITY 44 AVALANCHE ACCOUNTS: CAN YOU HELP ME PULL MY PANTS UP? 51 SAFETY GOES TO THE DOGS 52 GEORGE KLEIN'S SNOW STUDY KIT: A CANADIAN INVENTION 54 SETTING SIGHTS ON ISSW 2014 IN BANFF 55 SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING EVENTS 56 IN MEMORIAM: TIM JONES 57 IN MEMORIAM: WADE GALLOWAY 58 MIKE MCKNIGHT SKI INDUSTRY AWARD 60 RECENT RECALLS AND UPDATES RESEARCH 64 SURFACE HOAR: SIZE MATTERS RUNOUT ZONE

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first tracks

Working Together

Karilyn Kempton Managing Editor

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THIS ISSUE, I ACCIDENTALLY and irreversibly deleted a folder full of finished, edited articles. The theme of this issue is technology, and the irony is not lost on me.

That’s the thing about technology—it’s not foolproof. It’s susceptible to user error and hardware failure, and can advance so quickly that as soon as we adapt we’re already out of date. However, in this issue we’ve compiled many articles on how Canadian avalanche professionals are using technology to their advantage—with a few caveats.

Brian Gould offers up a rich comparison of remote avalanche control systems. Is your operation considering one? Nic Seaton outlines the progression of BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure's weather station technology, leading to 24-hour realtime data. Paul Cordy’s interesting article on avalanche prediction modelling points to the fact that we may always need humans to make life and death decisions.

Read about GIS in AvSAR operations from Paul Doherty and Jared Doke, and ITP’s plan for an online pre-course for the Level 1. I introduce the CAC’s Observer Network, a mobile observation exchange for recreational users, and Wren McElroy walks us through Whitewater’s backcountry trail map initiative.

ASARC’s Simon Horton puts on his x-ray goggles to map surface hoar layers for an online forecasting tool. Emily Grady also points to the need for more hands-on,

technical rescue training, leading to an AvSAR curriculum change.

And last but not least, we dedicate a large portion of the magazine to InfoEx. Pascal Haegeli and Kristin Anthony-Malone start it off with some background, context, and challenges faced by the implementation team.

Practitioners from a variety of industries provide perspectives on how it has gone for them this season, and they don’t sugarcoat it. Cam Campbell delves into the quantitative side of things, looking at the intersection between ORGS codes and numerical InfoEx data. In the fall issue, we’ll be spending more time talking about the first year of InfoEx. As the Journal Advisory Group mentions, the theme of the fall issue is “Made in Canada.” Please submit articles, photos, case studies, stories, research, or successes and/ or challenges you faced over the season. Send them in as early as possible—I’m getting married between the submission deadline and the magazine’s print date. The more articles that come in early, the less editing I’ll have to do on my wedding day.

Have a relaxing spring. You’ve earned it.

Karilyn Kempton

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Contributors

JARED DOKE Jared Doke worked as a GIS Technician for Yosemite Search and Rescue (YOSAR) and received an M.A. in Geography from the University of Kansas, where his thesis was “Analysis of Search Incidents and Lost Person Behavior in Yosemite National Park.” He is currently a Firefighter/EMT at Mission Township Fire Department in Topeka, KS and a member of the Kansas GIS Response Team.

12 USING GIS FOR AVALANCHE SEARCH AND RESCUE

NIC SEATON Nic Seaton is an avalanche technician with the Ministry of Transportation. He also manages the Ministry’s Provincial Weather Network Program and is based in Penticton.

14 MOTI WEATHER NETWORK PROGRAM: 1977 TO PRESENT DAY

PAUL CORDY Paul Cordy did a Masters degree in avalanche science at the University of British Columbia, and worked as a software development consultant with BC MOTI thereafter. He recently earned his Ph.D. in mining engineering, for which he studied mercury vapour contamination from small-scale mining in South America.

18 AVALANCHE PREDICTION MODELLING

PAUL DOHERTY Dr. Paul Doherty is the technical lead for the Disaster Response Program at Esri.

Prior to that, Paul worked as a Yosemite National Park Ranger and studied the use of geographic information systems for wildland search and rescue at University of California Merced.

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SIMON HORTON Simon Horton is working on his PhD with ASARC at the University of Calgary.

He has a BSc in Engineering Physics from Queen's University, and a Diploma in Meteorology from UBC. His interest in mountains, weather, and avalanches came from a few years of ski bumming in the Kootenay-Boundary region in between his studies.

64 SURFACE HOAR: SIZE MATTERS

WREN MCELROY Wren McElroy lives in Nelson, BC and is the Snow Safety Supervisor for Whitewater Ski Resort. Wren is also an Instructor for the CAA Industry Training Program.

40 MAPPING THE SLACKCOUNTRY

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front lines 27 WHAT'S NEXT FOR INFOEX?

36 IMPORTANT AVSAR CURRICULUM CHANGES

in this section 8 PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORTS 10 MEET THE AVALANCHE JOURNAL ADVISORY GROUP BOARD 11 WHAT A CHANGE IN BLASTING CAP SIZE MEANS FOR YOU 12 USING GIS FOR AVALANCHE SEARCH AND RESCUE 14 MOTI WEATHER NETWORK PROGRAM: 1977 TO PRESENT DAY 18 AVALANCHE PREDICTION MODELLING 22 REMOTE AVALANCHE CONTROL SYSTEMS: HIGH TECH ON THE MOUNTAIN 28 CHECKING IN ON INFOEX 30 SO WHAT DO SUBSCRIBERS HAVE TO SAY? 34 KEEPING TABS: GETTING MORE OUT OF TABULAR INFOEX DATA

education & awareness 38 FLIPPING THE AVALANCHE OPERATIONS LEVEL 1 CLASSROOM 39 ADDING VALUE TO THE CAC OBSERVER NETWORK 40 MAPPING THE SLACK COUNTRY

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// HAL PORTER

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CAA President’s Message Robb Andersen CAA President

MEMBERSHIP

AS SPRING APPROACHES, the challenging winter warrants reflection. Significant PWLs have been widespread throughout BC and Alberta, producing many climax, rare, and unique avalanche events. Avalanche professionals have been challenged with managing risks and decision making with a complex, challenging snowpack. This has certainly been the case for the avalanche team at Kootenay Pass. The balance between customer service and risk management can be stressful, particularly when it goes on for weeks at a time. I tip my hat to all of you for your professionalism and diligence.

We all appreciate other avalanche professionals voicing their opinions and concerns regarding current risks and approaches to managing those risks. There has been some fantastic messaging from our community this winter, especially our colleagues in various public safety and education roles. Social media has provided an impressive bridge between professionals and public.

In the professional realm, InfoEx is our vehicle for sharing information. I would like to thank all of our subscribers for working though growing pains with the new platform, and the staff and developers for continual improvement over the season. Your commitment to sharing valuable and critical information is the backbone of the InfoEx, and core to our profession.

Our Industry Training Program continues to attract strong student numbers, both internationally and at home. This is a direct result of a strong curriculum and world-class instruction.

Thanks to all of the staff and instructors who make ITP successful year after year.

On the board front, I am coming up to the end of my first two-year term as President. In that short time, the CAA has moved forward on a number of issues and there have been some significant changes. When I was first elected, the CAA and CAC were working though various aspects of separation. I’m happy to say the majority of issues have been resolved and both organizations are going full steam ahead in their respective directions. The CAA can focus its energy on the professional side of our industry and our membership.

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One of the board’s strategic goals over the next three years is changing our governance structure to follow best governance practices. Over the last few years, the board has enlisted professional consultants to advise us on the best path to achieve our organizational goals. Changes to our governance structure have been identified. Over the next year or two, you will see changes in our committee structure. This is already occurring with the implementation of the Governance Committee. As well, we are going to clarify the role of the Audit Committee and create a Finance Committee. There will be more changes coming as we look at by-law reforms and how to best respond to the requirements of the association.

The CAA continues to work towards a more robust, clear set of professional standards and ethics. We have been on this path in one way or another since the CAA was founded in the early 80s. A few key individuals recognized the need for a professional association to represent avalanche workers, creating the initial bridge between avalanche workers, regulators and industry.

I have been a professional member for 14 years. Prior to becoming President, I had not been involved in any committee or board work. It has been a steep learning curve—challenging at times but always rewarding. I appreciate the opportunity to become involved at this level, and the chance to grow to meet the challenge we’ve set for the CAA. A highlight has been seeing the association from the inside, to participate and help chart the path forward. I am proud to have had a chance to be more than a by-stander.

I can honestly say that I didn’t appreciate the amount of work and commitment that so many have made to our association over the past several decades. It is very clear to me now that all the goals the board has been able to accomplish during my brief time in service are only possible because of the work and commitment many of you have made over the years. The foundation is well established as we continue to change and evolve as a profession.

As some veteran members step back to enjoy more time with family, our continued success will be dependent upon the next generation of members “stepping up” and building on the good work of those who have put in their time. I encourage all members to consider applying their skills where they best fit—join a committee or even stand for a position on the board.

All of the great things the CAA has accomplished (and will continue to accomplish) are only possible by real engagement by the membership.

I hope to see you all at the AGM

Robb Andersen, CAA President

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CAA Executive Director's Report Joe Obad CAA Executive Director

BEING INFOVICH

IF YOU ENJOY screwball comedies, you’ve probably caught Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jones’ masterpiece Being John Malkovich. John Cusack’s character discovers a pathway that allows one to enter and inhabit John Malkoivch’s head for fifteen minutes before being unceremoniously thrown into ditch beside the New Jersey turnpike. Tiring of strangers commandeering his body and consciousness, Malkovich eventually discovers the portal, and enters it out of curiosity.

Of course, it goes other than planned. He is overwhelmed by a world of endless versions of himself who can only repeat one word. You guessed it: “Malkovich! Malkovich! Malkovich!”

Well, substitute “Malkovich!” for “InfoEx!” to get a sense of how the new software has dominated our attention this year.

Call from a member? InfoEx! Staff meeting? InfoEx! Board discussion on governance? InfoEx! Santa’s coming down the chimney with a sack full of: InfoEx! Well, you get the picture.

Quite simply, rolling out the new InfoEx platform has been pervasive in staff effort, subscribers, members, contractors, and other stakeholders. InfoEx! InfoEx! InfoEx! That is where the comparison ends. The film plays up narcissists for laughs as they run selfishly in all directions.

By contrast, the effort to build the new InfoEx has been challenging, but members, subscribers and the InfoEx Advisory Group have stepped up to work with staff and the developers to create a platform that we can all build upon for years to come. We still have a lot of miles in the journey, but no matter how challenging the conversation, I always hears the desire for subscribers to improve the product for the entire community.

To do so, we need frank, constructive conversations about how far we have come and where the product needs to go to serve the subscriber community. The Avalanche Journal Editor Karilyn Kempton has gathered some of that conversation in this issue with number of subscribers offering a mix of lumps and laurels for the new product.

Several commentators—and many of you—have told us “there’s too much data!” The challenge we face, in my perspective, is to mature our collective capabilities within the new system to ask the right questions and visualize

the information in the most meaningful fashion. There are certainly limitations to the existing InfoEx application, but having an open and direct discussion how to best use the capabilities of the existing system away from the immediate operational pressures might be a useful first step in the right direction.

Consider Google for moment. No one thinks of Google as having too much data, and its tentacles have almost infinite reach. Over time, use has matured so no one has issues with Google putting the onus on users to ask the right questions to limit the data returned so that it is usable for the searcher.

As InfoEx subscribers are both the data suppliers and seekers, we need a discussion as a community to clarify the responsibilities of each role.

As TECTERRA’s generosity slowly comes to a close, we cannot afford to send the developers off to write more code to settle technically what subscribers could settle by consolidating best practices. As InfoEx Advisory Group member Todd Guyn says in this issue, “As practitioners, it is our time to organize our needs and requirements to help fulfill the various goals we are trying to meet in our work environments.”

While there is no doubt we have much to do, the mutual expectations subscribers should have of each other is pushed by a product with almost infinite choice for both data input and retrieval. There are many steps to clarifying the data subscribers want to see as a minimum in submissions, as well as the types of outputs to help subscribers quickly make sense of this data.

Some of this important conversation starts in this issue with commentary on user experience with InfoEx. Another important step is the CPD session on InfoEx at the annual spring meeting. We hope this session will lay the basis for what may become InfoEx best practices. Together, we will work with the IAG to sort out what recommendations should be supported by user documentation or education, and others that may in special circumstances relate to modifications of the software. Additionally, over the coming year, the CAA will be installing an Association Management System (AMS) to enhance our web services for a broad range of member needs, including InfoEx. The AMS will provide improved communications options, including a forum. We hope the forum will allow subscribers and members to communicate more fluidly together, along with the IAG and CAA staff, on InfoEx challenges through the year.

I look forward to seeing many members and InfoEx subscribers in Penticton to discuss these important issues, but not so much that your ears ring like mine: InfoEx! InfoEx! InfoEx!

Joe Obad, CAA Executive Director

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Meet The Avalanche Journal Advisory Group Board

EARLIER THIS WINTER, Editor Karilyn Kempton put out a request to form a Journal Advisory Group. The plan is to meet three times per year to offer suggestions on upcoming articles and themes for the magazine. Karilyn’s goal was to gather members from a variety of industries and regions to help make connections to potential article writers.

Having input from CAA members working in the field to contribute ideas brings more input from a wider source. In Karilyn’s words, “You know who is doing what, where, and why it matters to CAA members, so you can offer suggestions on what would make for interesting Journal pieces.” The first conference call in early January produced some interesting dialogue and ideas that resulted in a few articles and ideas for this issue, including the InfoEx mid-season round table, and Paul Cordy’s piece on avalanche prediction modelling. There were also other leads that will likely turn into future articles.

As a group, we would like to request ideas and articles for the next issue.

The theme of Volume 107 is “Made in Canada.” This issue comes out September 2014, just in time for the ISSW in Banff, which will have a focus on frontline avalanche workers. We are looking for perspectives on uniquely Canadian programs and ideas—different solutions to avalanche problems, unique training or anything else. Our vast geography makes us unique in how we have to manage avalanches as an industry, and we are recognized internationally as a leader in avalanche safety. Contributing to The Avalanche Journal is a rewarding experience, and the different perspectives from our industry continue to make it an interesting read.

The Editorial Advisory Group is made up of John Tweedy, Larry Stanier, Bree Korobanik, Todd Anthony-Malone and Wren McElroy.

Todd Anthony-Malone, ACMG Ski Guide and aspirant rock guide

Larry Stanier, ACMG Mountain Guide

Bree Korobanik, Assistant Avalanche Technician, MoTI, Bear Pass-Stewart Avalanche Program

John Tweedy, Owner/ Principal, Kootenay Snow Safety Services

Wren McElroy, Snow Safety Supervisior, Whitewater Ski Resort

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DIFFERENT LENGTH OF BLASTING CAP ASSEMBLIES // C-I-L EXPLOSIVES

What a Change in Blasting Cap Size Means For You Everett Clausen THE RECENT HISTORY of blasting caps (or open-ended fuse caps, as they are often called in the USA) has been difficult. Several years ago, the generally standard Mantespo Blasting Cap, a 1.75-inch long, 0.25-inch diameter cap with a number eight strength brisance, became unavailable because of alleged packaging problems with the Brazilian regulatory authorities.

C-I-L Explosives were able to secure a one-time supply of redundant military M7 blasting caps that had been produced in the ICI Gomia facility. These 2.35-inch long, 0.25-inch diameter blasting caps with a high strength brisance were ordered to provide an 18- to 24-month buffer for the market.

When M7 caps were introduced, it felt prudent to produce a three-inch capwell in the Snowlauncher boosters so both M7 and Mantespos could be easily accommodated.

A new and guaranteed supply of SB blasting caps from Europe is being facilitated. These are strong, high strength brisance caps with a 1.5-inch length and 0.250-inch diameter.

This shorter length will force a return to the 2.5-inch capwell in Snowlauncher boosters; however, the M7 and Mantespo blasting caps can also be accommodated in the 2.5-inch capwell. The SB blasting caps should be used only in Snowlaunchers with 2.5-inch capwells—clients with three-inch capwells should use up Mantespo or M7 blasting caps. Anyone faced with such a situation should call C-I-L Explosives Technical Marketing Manager David Sly at (250) 744-8675 for advice and support.

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Using GIS for Avalanche Search and Rescue Paul Doherty and Jared Doke HAVE YOU EVER BEEN involved in a search operation for a missing person? Did you use colored markers to delineate search assignments on Mylar transparencies which were then overlaid on top of a topological map? Perhaps more recently, you used commercially available electronic mapping tools to visualize the terrain of your search area. If you have done either of these things, then you could say that you have already used an early form of GIS (geographic information system).

In recent years, there has been an entire community of SAR professionals, geographers, and geoscientists devoted to applying GIS to wildland search and rescue (WiSAR) operations. These practices can be utilized within avalanche search and rescue (AvSAR), and in this article we will explain exactly what GIS is, how it can be incorporated into each phase of a search and rescue operation, and provide some resources for you to get started utilizing GIS in your own operations.

WHAT IS GIS? GIS is the integrated collection of computer software and data used to view and manage information about geographic places, analyze spatial relationships, and model spatial processes.

GIS provides a framework for gathering and organizing spatial data and related information so that it can be displayed and analyzed. In more simple terms, GIS is data you can see on a map and analyze in ways you could not do with paper and pen alone.

GIS has been used to document historic avalanche occurrences, model potential avalanche paths, and map avalanche risk for a number of years, but it has rarely been incorporated into the search and rescue of persons in a post-avalanche environment.

However, the techniques developed for GIS in WiSAR can be adapted to AvSAR as described below.

FIG. 1: GIS ALLOWS US TO MAP OPERATIONAL DATA, INCORPORATE BASE DATA, AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TERRAIN, LIKE "HOW FAR COULD THE VICTIM TRAVEL GIVEN CURRENT CONDITIONS?"

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SEARCH GIS helps you manage data, allocate resources, and measure size, shape, and distribution. It is an emergency when it is determined someone is missing in mountainous terrain. If a person is not found within the first two days of a search, their chances of surviving decline significantly. Search is also an extremely complex space-time problem. For instance, assuming our missing person has moved at a nominal walking speed of 5kph and the direction of travel is unknown, then the search area theoretically expands to 82 km2 in just one hour. In avalanche-prone terrain, cross-country speeds may be lower, but the terrain complexity is increased dramatically. Therefore, we must use maps to identify the most probable search areas, collect information on where we have searched, and use that information to guide our resource allocation. Here is how a GIS can help: • Create accurate assignment (printed and digital) maps with up-to-date basemaps and base data.

• Manage operational data (planning areas, clues, GPS tracks) in a geographic database, which ensures data integrity, offers an environment for analysis, and provides an archive for future training.

• Summarize search incident statistics to create buffers from the initial planning point.

• Use terrain and habitat models to identify areas of higher probability (see Fig. 1).

• Allow search managers to collaborate across an interactive map during meetings.

RESCUE GIS helps you to find the best routes to and from an injured or trapped subject. In wildland environments without motorized access, ground teams and helicopters are more likely to be used for pre-hospital transport. In avalanche-prone environments, optimal routes to access a patient will vary throughout the year, or even on a daily basis. In addition, communication between rescuers and management teams is often limited. Rescuer safety is paramount and it is important that situational awareness is strengthened by spatial knowledge. GIS can help in the following ways: • Record trails and preferred routes in a spatiotemporal database.

• Map out dead zones for communication; use terrain-based analyses to optimally site radio and cellular repeaters.

• Display and interpret avalanche risk models during mission planning.

• Create a helicopter landing suitability map for your response areas.

• Track resource locations and communicate in real-time.

PREVENTION GIS helps you understand where and when incidents are likely to happen, determine how places are related, detect and quantify patterns, and make predictions. In a very limited sense, in order to prevent a search and rescue incident from occurring, we need to be in the right place, at the right time, with the right intervention measures. To do so generally requires an understanding of what has happened in the past. Many SAR teams rely on memory and training to learn from previous SAR missions, and very little of this information is documented for the next generation of SAR personnel. Moreover, very little information is shared between other local SAR teams, much less at the regional or national scale.

GIS can help in the following ways: • Map out the locations and attributes of previous incidents in a centralized geographic database.

• Raise public awareness of safety issues or garner support for your SAR team using interactive story maps.

• Present incident maps to rescuers for training purposes and overall team preparedness.

• Detect trends of where and when incidents occur to strategically position SAR and preventative SAR resources in the future.

• Share information across jurisdictional boundaries in order to advance the discipline of SAR. HOW TO GET STARTED Remember, GIS does not save lives—people do. However, the implementation of GIS in conjunction with the institutional knowledge of experts, in both the fields of SAR and GIS, can yield powerful results. Many tools are being built to support advanced analyses for SAR and to make basic mapping easier. To promote collaboration between the WiSAR community, the AvSAR community, and GIS professionals, we must begin to learn about each other’s worlds. To do so: • Download the Using GIS for Wildland Search and Rescue eBook (mapsar.net/files/gis-for-wildland-search-and-rescue-ebook.pdf).

• Join our discussion group (groups.google.com/group/sar-and-gis).

• Follow our blog (wisarandgis.blogspot.com).

• Meet a GIS professional and invite them to your next team meeting.

GIS does not have to be expensive or hard to learn. In fact, free, entry-level mapping software that can interface directly with more advanced analysis capabilities is presently available.

You may also already have access to GIS resources through a government license, and the Esri Non-Profit Organization Program (esri.com/nonprofit) is a great way to get started if you are a member of a volunteer organization. It may take a little time to implement GIS within SAR operations, but with its advanced capabilities, it may end up being the difference between life and death.

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Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Weather Network Program: 1977 to Present Day Nic Seaton SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION’S AVALANCHE PROGRAM IN 1974, AN ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT HAS BEEN OBTAINING ACCURATE WEATHER OBSERVATIONS. IN THE MID-1970S, WITH A NETWORK OF 127 MANUALLY OBSERVED WEATHER STATIONS, THE AVALANCHE PROGRAM STRIVED TO DEVELOP THE CAPABILITY TO OBTAIN WEATHER DATA THROUGH AN ELECTRONIC FORMAT.

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ALTHOUGH IN MOST CASES the accuracy of manual weather observations was quite reliable, trying to extrapolate data from roadside weather stations and apply it to what we thought was happening at higher elevation was at times fraught with error.

Also, observations from manual stations were taken twice daily by plow truck drivers, some of whom often had an aversion to getting snow in their boots, leading to very creative methods of taking weather observations.

As an incentive for taking the best possible weather observations, we initiated the Golden Thermometer award, which was basically the Oscar of taking good weather observations.

But as our earlier data records show, this incentive only went so far. In order to forecast avalanches effectively, especially leading up to and during storm events, 24-hour realtime observations were seen as an extremely valuable asset.

Due to the need for access to realtime weather data and the development of weather data transmission via radio telemetry in the late seventies, the deployment of an electronic weather station network started to become a reality. What began with one upper elevation station in the Fraser Canyon in 1977 is now a multimillion-dollar network of electronic weather and environmental stations. The present network of 192 electronic stations located across BC provides numerous ministries, agencies and government partnerships with accurate 24-hour real-time data for a multitude of forecasting and research-related activities. The information is used by weather forecasters, Ministry avalanche forecasters, the CAA InfoEx, Canadian Avalanche Centre public avalanche forecasters, highway maintenance operations, Seasonal Strength Loss Programs and for climate monitoring

research by various agencies and universities.

In addition, all weather observations ever collected (excluding the most recent 30 days) are now available to the public on our Ministry web site.

In 2004, with the ever-increasing expansion of the provincial weather station network, the Ministry of Transportation recognized the need for amalgamating the personnel required to maintain the provincial network of stations. These technicians, known as Environmental Electronic Technicians (EETs), would now be working for the Provincial Weather Network Program (WNP), which falls under the Ministry’s Avalanche and Weather Program. It is managed from a central location in Penticton.

Since the amalgamation, the WNP has branched out. Although providing data for avalanche hazard forecasting is still a key component of the WNP, it is certainly no longer the sole component. With public safety at the forefront, the increased demand for electronic weather stations has grown immensely. The WNP as it stands today consists of six specific types of weather and environmental monitoring stations, each with their own distinctive functions: 1. Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS) provide Ministry avalanche technicians with 24-hour real-time weather observations. Most RAWS stations are at or near avalanche start zone elevations and provide hourly weather observation data, essential when generating accurate avalanche hazard forecasts. In short, the more accurate an avalanche forecast, the more road closure times can be minimized.

2. Road Weather Stations (RWS) provide realtime road elevation weather and pavement data to the maintenance contractors. The

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TECHNICIANS GETTING READY TO DE-RIME CASSIOPE RAWS REPEATER IN THE DUFFEY LAKE AREA // MOTI

data collected from these stations is used by the contractors to assist them in providing a higher level of efficiency while at the same time increasing the safety for the traveling public.

The travelling public can also view this data on DriveBC.ca.

3. RWS stations with changeable message signs (RWS/CMS) are the most recent addition to the WNP. Since the addition of the RWS station, there has been a concerted effort to have it interface with a changeable message sign. This is now a reality through many hours of in-house coding and testing. Numerous areas throughout BC have small microclimatic conditions that may be noticeably different from their surrounding geographic area. These isolated areas often have cooler temperatures and increased humidity, so road conditions can often vary considerably, causing unsuspecting motorists to lose control of their vehicles. With the RWS/ CMS station, we can post real-time pavement condition information to two nearby overheard message signs the moment the conditions change. As conditions can vary greatly across the province, these stations are only effective in small micro-climatic areas and cannot be used in wide geographic areas. Due to the average driver attention span, it has been determined the RWS/CMS stations are most effective when the signs are no more than ten kilometers apart.

4. Frost Probe Stations (FPS) provide Ministry personnel with subsurface road temperature data used to determine the implementation and rescinding dates of the spring load restrictions for the Seasonal Strength Loss Program. If load restrictions are not implemented at the correct time, there is potential to incur in excess of $50-100 million worth of

damage annually to the BC highways infrastructure. Due to the northeast oil patch and the Beetle Kill Extraction Program, it is estimated that trucks carrying 100% of their GVW (gross vehicle weight) enter Prince George every 10 – 15 seconds. This puts substantial pressure on the Ministry to minimize load restriction time lines. Without the electronic frost probe network, this simply would not be possible.

5. Hybrid stations are a custom-built stations designed to monitor a weather or environmental data set at a specific location. Throughout the province there are often environmental incidents that require a specific type of monitoring system, such as an unstable slope whose movement is directly affected by precipitation. Another example would be to monitor ice accumulation on structures in a high-traffic area with a specific type of ice detection system. The hybrid station can be built and installed so it meets the specific needs of the user, and is often a scaleddown version of an RWS station.

6. The Pan Tilt Zoom camera (PTZ) is also a new addition to the network and is certainly stepping away from the traditional work that the WNP has done in the past. That being said, the WNP recognizes that real-time visual observations can be just as important as real-time weather or environmental data. With real-time visual confirmation, the PTZ not only provides excellent visual road weather information but can also work extremely well as a diagnostic tool. In addition, the PTZ also provides an excellent avalanche forecasting tool when dealing with remote areas where freezing and snow levels are critical to an accurate avalanche hazard forecast.

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The following provides the number of remote electronic weather stations and repeaters presently being maintained by the WNP staff: • 56 RAWS stations • 58 RWS stations, 22 of which also support Frost Probes • Seven RWS/CMS stations • 66 FPS stations • Four hybrid stations • Two PTZ cameras • 26 mountain top radio repeater sites Data retrieval from each individual station and data storage are managed by a complex system of hardware and software interfaces (including custom-built and off-the-shelf software) that allow the data to be moved from the weather stations to the end user. Data is collected hourly or every 15 minutes on a datalogger at each individual weather station. One of eight base stations located throughout the province calls the datalogger using one or more communication interfaces (including UHF radio, internet protocols, standard telephone, cellular or satellite). Data is automatically processed on the base station then submitted to an Oracle-based database known as the Snow Avalanche Weather System (SAWS) and then made available to end users within five minutes of collection. Users can access the data using SAWS-related applications including SAWS (Oracle Forms and Reports), Stormpro, Road Weather Information System (RWIS), or SAW-DATA, an Internet-based text reporting tool and mapping framework.

Ministry and maintenance contractors have full access to all weather and frost probe related data. Specific agencies (government or non-government such as the CAA) can be set up with access to data from specific stations, depending on the nature of the relationship between the Ministry and that agency. Access to this type of data is web-based and is password protected.

With so many end users now relying on the WNP data, it is of the utmost importance that the data is accurate, accessible and timely. Although technology has certainly improved the way we do business, a major factor preventing us from retrieving data without interruptions is the weather itself. As we try to retrieve data from some of the most inhospitable terrain in BC, we continually do battle with the weather. Rime ice can turn a twenty-foot steel tower with a full weather sensor array into a twisted mass of metal overnight. Extreme cold weather can freeze a precipitation gauge solid or kill your batteries in hours.

A random lightning strike can blow one small capacitor and lead to multiple onsite visits before the problem is solved, or it can simply vaporize your station and what was thought to be a simple communications problem turns into a summer rebuild project.

So we learn, invent and test multiple ideas to hopefully provide us with a little more time before the weather or an unexpected event causes our data to fail. We have learned that deploying flexible wind surfing masts will often shed the rime

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BRANT BENUM AND STEVE PORTMAN ON A PERFECT DAY FOR A NEW INSTALLATION AT CORBIN UPPER // MOTI

ice during a large storm event, or if we install a wind speed/ direction sensor painted black with an icephobic coating, it can often help speed up the rime ice shedding process after a storm. Methanol fuel cells have proven to be a great enhancement to solar sites constantly battling the mid-winter valley cloud. New non-invasive optical road sensors eliminate the possibility of grinding up and recycling $7,000 embedded pavement sensors during a summer paving project. As theft and vandalism is a constant drain on the WNP budget, we have come up with numerous ideas that work well as theft deterrents. The list goes on.

Personnel is one of the WNP’s greatest attributes, and over recent years has acquired a perfect blend of experience and young energetic minds. The blend tends to drive an attitude where new ideas are seen as a challenge, and we do things we never thought possible. Maintaining a province-wide network of 192 electronic weather stations is a monumental task, and there will always be spot fires to put out and issues that need to be taken care of. However, with ongoing advancements in technology both at the sensor and communications level, and a dedicated staff with a can-do attitude, there are no limits to what can be done in the future.

The Ministry of Transportation, Weather Network Program staff is made up of following personnel: Environmental Electronic Technicians Paul Hadfield (Terrace), Brant Benum (Salmon Arm), Paul Heikkila (Nelson), Andy Cooke (Duncan), Tim Clements (Penticton), and Mike Smith (Prince George); Assistant Environmental Electronic Technicians Josh Handley (Salmon Arm), Pat Colgan (Terrace), and Sean Anderson (Nelson); Assistant Avalanche Technician and Road Sensor Installation Technician Steve Portman (Penticton); Avalanche Technician and Weather Network Program Manager Nic Seaton (Penticton); Avalanche and Maintenance Weather Specialist Simon Walker (Victoria); Avalanche and Weather Systems Manager Tanya McKinney (Victoria); and Avalanche and Weather Systems Technician Adam Todd (Victoria).

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TECHNICIANS GETTING READY TO DE-RIME CASSIOPE RAWS REPEATER IN THE DUFFEY LAKE AREA // MOTI

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computer-based avalanche forecasting system which began more than 15 years ago in Kootenay Pass. Ted Wieck, former information systems manager for the MOTI avalanche and weather branch, spent over a decade developing the MOTI’s first digital highway, weather, and avalanche database. In the beginning, this meant considerable amounts of tedious data entry for technicians, who would have rather spent more time in the hills and on the road. Ted wanted to make all that data useful to the people who were assiduously collecting it for him, and so he became a fervent supporter of computer-based avalanche prediction.

In the mid-nineties, Dr. David McClung and John Tweedy developed and tested software that used manual weather observations (input by the user, of course) to predict the probability of avalanche activity that day. The prediction was

NORTH FORK AVALANCHE AREA ON THE EAST SIDE OF KOOTENAY PASS // MOTI

Avalanche Prediction Modelling Paul Cordy IN THE WORLD OF BIG DATA we have become accustomed to interacting with computer models. The search for good snow inevitably begins by consulting the ensemble weather forecast (the consensus weather prediction of five different detailed models of the atmosphere), just as most searches for knowledge these days begin by consulting Google (a complex and dynamic model of the relevance of digital information).

So one might expect that any day now Big Data will begin to spread its tentacles into the world of avalanche safety. But are there particular challenges to using computer models for avalanche prediction? Not the least of these may be the complexity of geographic and human factors leading to avalanche formation, and also the scarcity of reliable and continuous information about conditions in the start zones.

So how far have avalanche prediction models come, and how might they benefit organizations and individuals? Will they ever be good enough to rely on in Canada? The British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) has a long history of taking the lead in creating digital tools for avalanche practitioners. These efforts have led to the development of one tool that we know and use already: SnowPro. A lesser-known innovation of the MOTI is the

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based on a statistical model that was created using historical weather data and avalanche occurrence records from the previous ten seasons at Kootenay Pass. As in all computer models (including Google’s search engine), historic data is used to train the model, or in the case of MOTI, determine the relative importance of various weather variables and how to combine them in a way that computes accurate predictions of avalanches.

This is not too dissimilar to the way that we humans learn.

Our experience is combined with training to create mental models of how weather creates avalanches. Often we will compare current weather or snowpack structure with previous seasons’ observations to refine our decisions. The original Kootenay Pass model also retrieved the ten most similar instances of weather and presented the data to the human forecaster to further aid in decision making. In the end, both model approaches were 70-80% accurate. Early in the 2000s, James Floyer proved that similar models could be trained on Bear Pass datasets with similar results.

As a Masters student with McClung at the University of British Columbia, my contribution to this effort was to dynamically integrate numerical weather forecasts and optimize different versions of the model for each of five different highway corridors with active avalanche control programs. In each place, we used ensemble weather forecasts up to 48 hours ahead into each model, thus extending avalanche predictions into the future (all previous avalanche models predicted present probability of avalanches only). As it happens, predicting avalanches in the future mostly depends on the accuracy of weather forecasting, and most avalanche forecasting models achieve similar accuracy irrespective of the type or complexity of the model.

Of course a 70 to 80% prediction rate is horribly inaccurate given the consequences range from traffic hazard to loss of life, and so there always had to be a human forecaster calling the shots. But before dismissing computer models, one must

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DEPOSIT FROM PATH 19.3 IN KOOTENAY PASS. A SIZE 3 AVALANCHE TRIGGERED BY HELI BOMBING // MOTI

consider the constraints under which they are working.

Take weather forecasting as an analogy. European weather prediction is far better than that of western North America because of differences in density of meteorological stations.

Weather systems en route to Europe are being broadcast by countless sensors in myriad islands and land masses in the Atlantic, not to mention by the North American sensor network. Reliable data makes for more reliable weather models. By contrast, weather on its way to western North America passes over the Pacific Data Void, a vast stretch of ocean almost uninterrupted by islands and permanent weather stations. So the very same computer models are often inaccurate more than 24 hours in advance.

So too with computer models of avalanche prediction.

Greater complexity and precision of avalanche models is unlikely to improve forecast accuracy until we provide such models with more and better information. The data that we provide prediction models couldn’t possibly compete with the human experience. Avalanche technicians explore the terrain, doing hand shears and listening to the snow settling under their skis. They feel temperature changes when fronts come through, just like the sensor networks do, but sensors can’t see the sun hit certain start zones, and they can’t see how snow is loading up there. Really, it’s a miracle that numerical prediction algorithms are accurate at all.

Therefore, the next goal was to integrate information about the snowpack into the model. The MOTI avalanche models had a built-in mechanism for updating the avalanche probabilities based on new information. Previously, this "prior" information was added by the forecaster in response to avalanche control results or other knowledge that was not available to the model. Prior probabilities could just as easily come from a model of snowpack structure and stability such as the red flag method of SnowPro, or the SNOWPACK physical model used in Switzerland. Unfortunately, changing funding priorities and personnel at the MOTI meant that snowpack information was never integrated into predictions, although it is still used in Kootenay Pass. It’s up to the next generation take it to another level.

Generational change itself was also a major driver of interest in creating the model. During the latest bout of modeling studies, MOTI was facing the near-simultaneous retirement of all of their technicians. MOTI saw that new staff might get up to speed more quickly if they could scan the results for the size, type and spatial distribution of natural or controlled avalanches in the historical records. The idea was to try to decouple the memories of seasons from the people who observe them, and help bridge the loss of team experience when seasoned professionals retire. Furthermore, the benefits of such systems would be more apparent to successive

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A CROWN ON PATH 19.8, KOOTENAY PASS // MOTI

generations of technicians who would be ever more native to the digital environment. Whereas the old ironsides of the avalanche patch are more likely to decry that their Rite in the Rain books have never crashed nor printed error messages, younger generations are more likely to wish they could just use their iPhone and store it in the cloud.

Computers can supplement our memories, help us see broad patterns, and evaluate the importance of various causal factors that govern avalanche formation. Snowpack depths and precipitation intensity can be measured by satellite, and soon we’ll have satellites sensing atmospheric structure and conditions over the Pacific Data Void. With more and more wired backcountry users and the Canadian Avalanche Centre’s geo-referenced recreationist observation database, avalanche information is set to explode. Models can help us to synthesize an oversupply of data into relevant knowledge.

That knowledge will always be limited by the data and model that generate it, and may always require a human to make life

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and death decisions. However with changing personnel and changing climate, it helps to maintain historical perspective on present events. Avalanche prediction models can help to bridge present and past, and to help us tease out the most relevant information that can be used to manage risk.

As the analytical techniques of Big Data inexorably penetrate all aspects of life, I expect that one day they will be as much a part of the furniture of our lives as smartphones. However, research and development in avalanche risk modeling advances through the vision, passion and forward thinking of people like John Tweedy and Ted Weick, who championed the initiative within the MOTI. Although my main research focus has shifted from avalanche models to pollution modeling and mitigation, I maintain a deep interest in the topic. As we approach the critical information density with respect to snow and weather, I look forward to collaborating with the next generation of visionaries and institutional champions that will bring the avalanche world back in step with Big Data.

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Snow is our element.

Protection by Technology our strength.

www.wyssen.com

OUTDOOR RESEARCH速 PROUDLY SUPPORTS THE CANADIAN AVALANCHE ASSOCIATION. Photo // Grant Gunderson / OR Zack Giffin

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O'BELLX UNIT ON SLOPE NEAR RESORT IN EUROPE// JOËLLE BOZON

Remote Avalanche Control Systems: High Tech on the Mountain Brian Gould ANY AVALANCHE PROFESSIONAL tasked with actively controlling avalanches is well aware of the concept of timing. Too early or too late may mean another sleepless night versus a healthy pile of debris on the road or worksite from a full path cleanout. Although bad timing can be the result of inaccurate forecasting, more often than not it is a result of the inability to initiate a trigger (explosion) in the start zone at the right time, either due to poor visibility, dangerous flying weather, or unsuitable conditions for avalanche technicians to access by ground.

Enter Remote Avalanche Control Systems (RACS).

Although not a new technology in our industry, Canada has had relatively limited experience with RACS other than along a few highway corridors in BC and one in Alberta.

Not surprisingly, RACS dot the landscape in much of the European Alps. In addition, several mining operations in South America and a few highway departments in the United States have embraced the technology.

What are RACS? For the purposes of this article, RACS refers to any avalanche explosive control system that is installed in and around starting zones, and uses telemetry and electronics to relay and transmit a coded triggering sequence from a computer (office or laptopbased) to a fixed installation on the mountain. Bomb-tram systems and systems that are suspended beneath a helicopter are not included.

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Globally, there appears to be increasing interest in RACS every year. This may be partly due to reduced tolerance to lengthy closures at alpine ski areas, and along increasingly congested travel corridors, but also due to numerous anecdotal reports and research indicating that RACS provide good value in the right situation. Even in Europe where permanent engineered solutions to avalanche problems are the norm, avalanche mitigation incorporating RACS is becoming a popular alternative, and a way to avoid the high capital costs of avalanche sheds or structural protection.

This article presents a brief overview of RACS types currently available in Canada, and describes some of the advantages of each. Brief summaries of some of the RACS public relations events that occurred in association ISSW 2013 in France are also included.

Although several types of RACS have entered the marketplace over the years, a handful of types have stood the test of time.

Currently, there are three main companies offering RAC systems to the Canadian marketplace: T.A.S. gas-based products from France (distributed in Canada by AvaTek Mountain Systems Inc.); Wyssen Avalanche Control AG avalanche control towers from Switzerland (represented in Canada by Hans-Juerg Etter); and Inauen-Schatti AG’s Avalanche Guard® and Avalanche Master® from Austria (distributed in Canada by C-I-L Explosives in partnership with Maple Leaf Powder Ltd.).

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GAS-BASED RACS You can’t get too far down the road in our business without hearing about the immensely successful Gazex installations protecting some BC and Alberta highways. After an initial trial starting in 1992 of two fixed cannons on the top of a rather finicky path on the Duffey Lake highway, the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure's Avalanche Program embraced the technology and installed 19 more over a period of seven years from 1993-2000 along Kootenay Pass, one of their highest risk avalanche areas in the province. Including the two cannons on the Sunshine Village road, there are now 28 installed cannons in Canada, and over 2,300 in the world dotting the landscape above transportation corridors, ski areas, mines, and now Olympic ski runs with 107 at Rosa Khutor Alpine Resort in Sochi, Russia.

For over 20 years, France’s T.A.S. (Technologie Alpine de Securite) has been the sole provider of gas-based systems—the three main types in the T.A.S. fleet being Gazex, Gazflex, and a newer portable, less invasive system called O’Bellx. Only Gazex has been installed in Canada so far.

The basic concept of gas-based RACS involves mixing two individually harmless gases inside a downwardoriented explosion chamber for approximately seven seconds, followed by ignition via a timed electronic spark. With Gazex and Gazflex systems, gas is normally supplied by piping from a nearby gas “farm” (a small shelter housing telemetry, electronics, and gas bottles) to up to a maximum of ten fixed cannon locations in start zones (an all-in-one autonomous system is also available for individual cannon placements). O’Bellx is a fully selfcontained telemetry/electronics/exploder unit similar to the Daisybell system (another T.A.S. product), positioned on a permanently installed pedestal (mast) by way of helicopter long-line transport system. With a specialized hook system, a reverse of the docking procedure allows for removal and transport to the valley shop at the end of the season, or when bottle replacement or maintenance is required. As a result, once the unit is installed there is no need for a worker to access the target site again, other than to inspect the foundation of the installation on occasion.

Some of the key advantages to gas include: inexpensive cost per blast (after initial capital cost); a large number of shots with standard size gas bottles; uses commonly available gas; no duds, and no regulatory issues with the transport or storage of conventional explosives; and some limited ground vibration to add to the air blast effect (with Gazex/Gazflex).

AVALANCHE GUARD INSTALLED AT LAURIE PATH EAST OF REVELSTOKE // MOTI

EXPLOSIVES-BASED RACS Explosives-based systems incorporate devices that deploy cast explosives in either a tethered or untethered configuration. A tethered configuration allows for the charge to be suspended on a rope. Charges are either projected with a mortar system from a fixed tower/box combo, or lowered from a specialized deployment box. The main types on the market in Canada include Avalanche Guard/Avalanche Master, and the Wyssen Tower.

AVALANCHE GUARD AND AVALANCHE MASTER Although a smaller player than Gazex in the Canadian marketplace (installed in only one path in Canada so far), Inauen-Schatti AG’s mortar type RAC system is an engineering marvel. Licensed as a remote magazine, the mast-mounted boxes house ten pre-loaded four-kilogram TNT charges (in cylindrical firing tubes), with associated mortar propellant. Each box is equipped with a servooperated door that can be opened to the elements to fire primed charges out the door in pretty much any weather conditions. The telemetry and electronics are housed in the same box as the explosives.

The Avalanche Guard is an untethered system that projects a charge in an arc trajectory to a pre-registered target, while the Avalanche Master is a tethered (up to 40m rope) version with the mast usually inclined out over the slope to allow for

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WYSSEN TOWER INSTALLED NEAR DAVOS // BRIAN GOULD

effective air blast. Due to the ability to vary the amount of mortar propellant, as well as adjust the azimuth of the box on the mast, the target location can be tweaked substantially after the hardware is installed on the mountain.

Advantages of the Avalanche Guard include the ability to locate all infrastructure in a safe area (e.g., at ridge top, away from steep slopes). In addition, the target location may be readjusted without having to re-install infrastructure.

Advantages of the Avalanche Master include the ability to tether a charge to limit charge sliding, and create a solid fourkilogram TNT air blast.

WYSSEN TOWER A newcomer on the Canadian market, the Wyssen Tower LS12-5 is a market-leading RAC system in Switzerland and Austria, and shows great promise as a RAC system in Canada now that it has been approved by regulatory agencies (Hans-Juerg Etter, personal communication, April 26, 2013). The system is a self-contained unit (similar concept to O’Bellx) consisting of a portable explosives magazine deployment box that is seasonally installed on top of a remotely installed inclined mast. Inside the portable deployment box are 12 pre-loaded tethered charges loaded into a mechanically rotating tray (dispenser). The initiation sequence involves a release of a suspended charge on a tether up to 14m in length above the start zone.

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Similar to the O’Bellx, the operational unit is removed and replaced remotely by helicopter long-line transport system, which allows for maintenance and reloading of explosives in a comfortable location in the valley. The magazine has a capacity of 12 charges, and although the charge size has not yet been confirmed in Canada, a robust five-kilogram charge is commonly used in European installations.

The main advantages of the Wyssen Tower include the portability of the deployment box (for worker safety, ease of reloading and maintenance, and summer storage), and the significant effective range of the air blast from the fivekilogram charge—up to a 130m fracture radius, according to Wyssen, which has been tested and verified by the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF. THE BOTTOM LINE As with any large capital purchase, complete careful research before jumping into one particular type or brand. Everything from the site conditions and blast suitability, to availability of local installation expertise, to parts supply, to history of the RACS in the marketplace should be considered. Specific expertise may be required for detailed planning, business case analysis, and optimizing placement. A foundation engineer should be consulted for final positioning and anchoring of critically loaded components.

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Although each of these products can appear costly on first glance, some installations may be more reasonable than one would think depending on foundation conditions, and proximity of the site to a shipping base. If multiple units are installed, volume discounts and shipping efficiencies can be capitalized on. Also, it appears competition in the marketplace has certainly been a good thing for the consumers of these products, with prices remaining pretty much the same since the first installs back in the 1990s. Cost per shot must still be factored in, but when one considers the enormous benefit to good timing when it comes to avalanche control, the payoff of installing RACS may be shorter than one would think.

Post-ISSW 2013 Wyssen Zermatt Avalanche Control Systems Tour

During ISSW 2013 in Grenoble, approximately three busloads of international delegates were treated to a fine evening of wine and cheese, music, and art demonstrations at the T.A.S. factory just outside of Grenoble. Company directors and engineers gave an informative and impressive factory.

BASED ON THE 2013 APPROVAL by Canadian explosive regulators of their system in Canada, Wyssen Avalanche Control AG invited a few key Canadian organizations and companies to Zermatt after ISSW 2013 to view several Wyssen Tower systems installed in avalanche paths above roads, railways, and ski runs in the area. Representatives from the CAA, Parks Canada, and Alpine Solutions Avalanche Services attended. Highlights of the tour included a “show and tell” session in one of the main valley-based explosive loading bunkers as well as a spectacular helicopter tour of numerous fixed Wyssen Tower installations in and around Zermatt.

Company head Sam Wyssen and Canadian representative Hans-Juerg Etter were on hand to describe details of their system ranging from priming methods, foundation requirements for towers, and specific issues they have worked through during the approximately 13 years the system has been in production. A late afternoon presentation in Zermatt by local rescue veteran and Chief of Zermatt avalanche control, Bruno Jelk, IFMGA, provided good context as to how Wyssen systems are used to control many of the problematic avalanche paths in Zermatt.

DAISYBELLS AND O’BELLX SHELLS LINED UP ROW BY ROW // BRIAN GOULD

SAM WYSSEN EXPLAINING THE DOCKING MECHANISM // JOE OBAD

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author would like to acknowledge BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for their comments and images, John Tweedy for his comments and historical perspective, Joe Obad, and Parks Canada for their images.

ISSW 2013 T.A.S. Night

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AVATEK SECOND AD

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JOE OBAD INTRODUCING INFOEX // LINDSAY HISCHEBETT

What's Next for InfoEx? Kristin Anthony-Malone AFTER 14 MONTHS OF DEVELOPMENT AND 10 TRAINING SESSIONS WITH OVER 250 PARTICIPANTS IN FOUR LOCATIONS, THE NEW INFOEX WENT LIVE ON DECEMBER 1, 2013 WITH 130 SUBSCRIBERS.

AS YOU WILL READ, there have been many hurdles along with many successes.

At the same time the new InfoEx launched, a ticketing system was put in place to deal with these hurdles. The ticketing system is essentially an online helpdesk; it has been extremely helpful for us here at the CAA to track, replicate, assist, fix and respond to ongoing InfoEx questions or bugs. InfoEx users quickly started using this new help tool—we would like to personally thank you.

Users have submitted over 300 tickets. These tickets have helped us track the ongoing issues, and have made daily bug fixing possible. Each week, we launch a new version of InfoEx that includes bug fixes, general improvements and new features. These updates are a direct result of end users telling us about their experience and providing suggestions for improvements.

Now into our fourth month of operations at the time of writing, the tickets and phone calls come in less frequently as users learn the new system and issues get resolved. We won’t say it has been a completely smooth road, but we are encouraged and excited about what has already been accomplished in a relatively short amount of time, and what is possible moving forward. The future of InfoEx offers a robust platform, endless options for future development, and the flexibility to change with the industry.

This leads me to the topic for this year’s Continuing Professional Development session at the spring conference on May 7.

We have heard your requests and see the need to address InfoEx. The new platform has brought both benefits and implementation challenges to the subscriber community in its inaugural year. While focus has been on the technical aspects of the current product, the subscriber community will define the use of InfoEx in the years ahead.

On a platform with endless choice, how does our subscriber community define successful information exchange to meet their operation’s individual needs? This year’s CPD session focuses on case studies, advanced features and breakout discussions.

The case studies let subscribers share their InfoEx experiences for the benefit of other subscribers. Pascal Haegeli will offer an overview of advanced features readily adaptable to subscriber practices. The breakout sessions will allow sector-specific discussion and optimization.

InfoEx is only as valuable as the collective effort its users bring to exchanging daily snow, weather and avalanche information.

We hope this CPD increases the subscriber community’s understanding of everyone’s requirements and how to best use the new platform to that end.

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Checking In On InfoEx Pascal Haegeli I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT of would like to share some of the observations we have made InfoEx in various capacities since working on my Ph.D. at the while helping subscribers use the new InfoEx, and put those University of British Columbia. Over the years, I have spend a observations into the bigger context of the overall vision of this lot of time talking to members of the avalanche community project. about different ways to make InfoEx serve them better.

The transition to the new InfoEx system was dramatic. Not TECTERRA’s offer of significant funds for InfoEx’s redesign was only did we introduce a new way for entering observations, an unexpected gift that created a tremendous opportunity to we also added additional observation types, and the format of make at least some of these ideas a reality. The opportunity to the reports was changed. Furthermore, to better support the be directly involved in the project as the translator between diversity within our community, we made the new application end users and developers was even more exciting to me. highly customizable to allow operators to adjust their InfoEx The project's intent was to develop a focused, intuitive, and experience to their specific needs. In fact, there has never been user-friendly application for efficiently entering observations a time when subscribers had more power over how they want and viewing InfoEx to submit their information reports. To ensure the and what to have included InfoEx application in their reports. However, would meet the needs having this flexibility meant of the end users, we that extra time was needed conducted extensive at the beginning of the user consultation for season to get familiar with an overview of the the new system and to set features to include it up properly. Many InfoEx in the application, users took advantage of and how to best the training sessions that design them. During were offered by the CAA the application’s in November, but we were actual development, not able to cover everybody. we continuously As a consequence, InfoEx consulted with a was a bit of a shock at the group of InfoEx beginning of the season for subscribers—the many. While this certainly User Acceptance caused some frustration, Committee—for many of the initial issues GRANT STATHAM DEMONSTRATES INPUTTING DATA OFFLINE // LINDSAY HISCHEBETT feedback on our first were solved quite quickly implementations after a brief phone and to fine-tune functionalities. After months of designing, conversation or a short support email. Once the system was developing, testing, and fiddling, we launched the new InfoEx set up properly, it seemed to work smoothly for most users. application on December 1, 2013.

In addition to the new data entry system, we also introduced We knew having it out there in the "wild" and being used the conceptual model of avalanche hazard, developed by by subscribers during regular operations would quickly tell Grant Statham and colleagues in 2010. Since its introduction, us whether we achieved our goal, and point to where the this structured approach to the evaluation of avalanche improvements to the application were still needed. Since hazard has gained wide acceptance within our community December 1, Kristin Anthony-Malone and I have been on the and it has become a cornerstone of the ITP curriculum. The receiving end of support calls, emails, text messages, and TECTERRA project seemed like the perfect opportunity for tickets, we have scanned InfoEx for potential issues, and introducing the conceptual model into InfoEx. Adding the we have talked to subscribers whenever possible. Here, we model, however, resulted in a number of additional forms

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and a couple of new tables in the InfoEx report, which were initially unfamiliar to many. Common comments we got from users were that these new tables are hard to read, and that there is simply too much information. Some users suggested that entering and presenting this information in a short, free-

CAA standard documents. Including these new concepts in InfoEx offered a unique opportunity to gain practical experiences with them. We believe that this has put us in a much better position to discuss the value of these concepts and how to use them in the future. Since we have already put

form statement would be much more efficient.

While we agree, presenting the information in a single table was only the first step in building a more interactive InfoEx. Since the start of the season, we have continuously improved the presentation of the avalanche problem information by adding hyperlinks with pop-up balloons to the avalanche hazard table, standardizing the problem colours, and including this information as new layers in the map view. Compared to free-form comments, which are limited to InfoEx's tabular view, more structured reporting opens great opportunities for interlinking the information and visualizing in map layers or charts. These types of presentations should eventually make it easier for you to get a quick overview of the current conditions and drill into critical information in more detail without having to wade through tables.

We certainly see the merit of qualitative descriptions for conveying thoughts about current conditions, but there are also benefits to being able to chart information on maps.

We simply need to find the right balance between the two approaches. There are limitations on the current presentation of data, but we hope that our initial attempts have made you think about the possibilities. If you have any ideas, we would love to hear about them.

There are numerous other construction sites in the application where we have not yet reached our goals. A good example is the functionality for persistent weak layers (PWLs).

While the ability to track PWLs in the snowpack module offered some operational value, this information is currently not presented in a meaningful fashion in the reports. Once fully implemented, we envision a system that will allow users to more easily monitor the status of critical PWLs, get quick access to relevant observations and track associated avalanche activity.

We clearly have not reached all of our goals—yet. Putting the foundation in place so that we can actually go where we want to in the future has been a tremendous amount of work. We hope the avalanche community has the patience to see the long-term vision and contribute to it so that we end up at a place that works for everybody.

A further complication for using some of the new InfoEx features is that the community has not completely agreed on what exactly is exchanged and in what format. Examples are descriptors for the status of PWLs, or the various parameters used to describe the character of avalanche problems. While these new assessment types have emerged from recent CAA and CAC projects, neither has made it into OGRS or any other

the foundation in place, adjusting the system will be easy once the community has come to their conclusions.

Many help tickets included suggestions about additional InfoEx features. While we tried to implement many of them as quickly as possible, others had to be added to the “nice-tohave” list for later. It was also not uncommon for the InfoEx application to already have the requested functionality. Many users were not aware of the InfoEx system’s full range of capabilities and its ability to be tailored to the specific needs of individual subscribers. Examples include adding a date column to InfoEx reports, changing the sort order of tables or downloading the data that was submitted by your operation.

In response to this issue, we improved the design of the application in an attempt to make some of the features more obvious. We also expanded the online documentation. Please visit infoexhelp.avalanche.ca for detailed descriptions of the various features of the application.

Despite our best efforts to test every aspect of the application before the launch in December, there were numerous bugs in the system, including a few big ones. While we have chipped away at these bugs in every release, there are still a few hardy ones out there. If you are experiencing any technical difficulties or unexpected behaviours, please let us know immediately by sending an email to infoex@canadianavalancheassociation.zendesk.com. Using this email address will ensure that your problem is directed to the person most suitable so you receive a response in a timely manner. The more details you can provide about the steps that led to the problem, the better it can be addressed.

This information is crucial for the developers to recreate the issue on their own computers and track down the bug. Getting to the bottom of the issue might take a little bit of back and forth, but your help is appreciated and will pay off for the community.

I hope this background gives you a better sense of what we are trying to achieve, and where we are at right now. We have lots of ideas for where to go next, and about how to use the current application to its fullest potential. The CPD session on May 7 is fully dedicated to your practical experiences with InfoEx and your ideas for the best use of the application.

We really look forward to these discussions. Our role is primarily to highlight opportunities and ensure we have the technological foundation for moving forward. It is the user community who needs to determine how the tools serve them the best.

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So What Do Subscribers Have to Say?

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REVELSTOKE MOUNTAIN RESORT

SELKIRK MOUNTAIN EXPERIENCE

Troy Leahey, Avalanche Forecaster

Alex Geary, ACMG Ski Guide

THE OLD INFOEX has certainly been the hallmark of the Canadian avalanche industry and the “new” InfoEx was hotly anticipated at the beginning of the season. New things are often associated with growing pains and InfoEx has certainly suffered from a bit of that this year.

I would not say we are using InfoEx too differently than we did before at Revelstoke Mountain Resort. We are still looking at avalanche observations, weather data, hazard and stability ratings, and snowpack information. The ability to tailor the ranges or operations you wish to follow has been great and perhaps allowed a more streamlined view of information. The workflow option has allowed for more streamlined data entry and the ability to focus on the information your particular operation has to offer.

The new InfoEx has not been without its frustrations, and perhaps there are some features that were not as usable as we had envisioned. But neither Rome nor the old InfoEx were built in a day, or even a year. I think this was a good initiative and a good product, and I look forward to its continued development and evolution in the future. Thanks for everyone’s hard work.

AT SELKIRK MOUNTAIN EXPERIENCE, we have been using InfoEx every day since Christmas. While some aspects are great, others have been a bit frustrating. There are many features we like. The avalanche hazard chart info is presaved and only requires editing each morning and afternoon, which is a big time saver for us. We appreciate the ability to customize the workflows, which we use to help guide our AM and PM guides meetings. We like that we are able to filter out operations not relevant to us (e.g., the Chic Chocs). It is helpful to separate the snowpack observations from the snowpack summary. Also, Kristin Anthony-Malone and Pascal Haegeli have always been very helpful responding to our questions in a timely manner.

We are still struggling with some issues. We’re finding that some other operators are not taking the time to fill in their observations properly (e.g., leaving out key locations, elevations, aspects, terrain skied), so their reports are far less useful to us than they could be. Also, we have struggled with the print format, which I understand the CAA is working to address.

I would say the new InfoEx has the potential to be much better than the previous version as bugs continue to be repaired and everyone gets used to filling in all their relevant observations.

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// HAL PORTER

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ALPINISM.COM MOUNTAIN AND SKI GUIDING

KOOTENAY PASS

Mark Klassen ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide

Robb Andersen, District Avalanche Technician, Kootenay Pass, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and CAA President

GETTING THE INFO I NEED out of Infoex has always been somewhat of a challenge. This winter, I will have worked from Whistler to K-Country and from the Columbia Icefields to the southern Monashees, and I won’t spend more than a week in any one place. Therefore, I need to track general trends in a wide variety of regions over the season, with focused information gathering for specific zones before and during the period I end up there. My “nearest neighbors” are spread throughout western Canada and consist of the places I’m going to this winter, and some of the places where I’ve worked in the past, because I know the terrain and the people who are inputting, which gives me context.

The new functionality of InfoEx does help with organizing information from the different locations I’m looking at, and I’m able to filter the “noise” that comes with too much information. That alone is a big improvement in being able to focus on the few bits of critical information that I scan for. However, a problem is there are too many options for input in the first place. I never know if I am missing something if I choose not to look at some of the many fields available for input. For example, one operation may choose to enter critical information in snowpack description and another in avalanche problems; too many individual boxes in the different observation categories exacerbate this issue. So I still end up sifting through a lot of information that is not relevant to my decisionmaking.

The biggest problem I have is that the information for an operation is not available in one place. I need to compare the different data from an operation side by side, yet I am unable to do that in the tables or in the emailed PDF, resulting in a lot of hunting and pecking between all the different categories.

The Google Earth capability is an interesting addition to InfoEx and it is close to addressing some of the complications I’ve outlined above. Unfortunately the plug-in does not work on my not-veryold computer. I have been able to play with it a little bit elsewhere though and have found it difficult to use. The screen feels very busy and one needs to zoom in a long way to separate the information available for each operation; there is too much information initially available in the map view. A more streamlined approach to having only critical information available would help me out. The map view also is extremely slow to load and impossible to use with a slow connection (which I deal with a fair bit). I would prefer a simple Google Map instead of Google Earth, as this would still give me geographical context to critical factors without the technical issues involved with using Google Earth.

We are moving in the right direction, but a focused effort to create standardized inputting of critical factors that may be compared side-by-side within operations is the InfoEx I am interested in.

THE NEW INFOEX SYSTEM has been working well for the staff at Kootenay Pass. We quickly adapted to the new system and have integrated it into our daily routine. Our workflow starts in the morning during our morning meeting. This replaces our previous form for documenting snowpack and hazard discussions.

We treat the InfoEx as a living document that is updated throughout the day prior to being sent out for publication. This approach has helped to minimize the time at the end of the day putting the entire report together.

One of the innovations I like is the ability to select specific information from the reports without having to scroll though a large amount of information. I can easily pinpoint the information I am looking for. Although I admit I am reading less of the InfoEx overall, the information pertinent to my region is easier to sift though.

So far the avalanche staff at Kootenay Pass have been impressed with the new InfoEx system. The CAA staff and developers are still working out bugs and issues, but overall we are happy with the direction the InfoEx has taken. I think we need to remember that this is a huge step forward for the InfoEx. The layout and design wish list of the potential capabilities and future of the InfoEx was driven by representatives from across our industry. I fear that in trying to accommodate everyone’s needs, the InfoEx has become a little complicated for some. My advice would be to use the functions as little or as much as you need. The beauty of the system is the ability to customize your information stream. It will take time for everyone to become familiar with the new system and to be able to use it to its maximum potential.

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SOUCIE CONSTRUCTION

CMH

Ken Black, Avalanche Risk Management and Mountain Safety Division

Todd Guyn, CMH Mountain Safety Manager and InfoEx Advisory Group Mechanized Ski Representative

AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS of use, here’s my take on the InfoEx experience from the Soucie Construction Avalanche Risk Mitigation and Mountain Safety Division technicians.

What’s good is that the data input process has been streamlined from the old version of InfoEx. The visualization tools for discussing avalanche problems are useful. The user-configurable workflows help to streamline the meeting process. There is also readily available help online and via telephone.

From our perspective, there are some areas for improvement. Numerous bugs make it hard to know when we are making errors or when the software is causing mistakes. The PWL entry and manipulation is confusing, especially terms like active/inactive/dormant, that are in some instances software toggles and at other times descriptors of the PWL behaviors. We believe a glossary would be helpful, since non-OGRS terms/standards are often used.

Usability is another factor—InfoEx takes a while to adapt to, since so much information is spread under many headings. A key shortcoming for users was the inability to export the information they have entered for their own operational use (e.g. avalanche observations/summaries, weather data/time profiles,), but this issue was dealt with in updates—thank you. In a small operation with limited manpower, the necessity to duplicate data entry both for our operations and the InfoEx is unwieldy. During storm cycles it is possible for information to be lost or not shared in a timely fashion. The ability for an operation to withdraw the information it has entered would be a great benefit for historical data maintenance and budgeting purposes, as well as an enormous time saver.

Useful features for operations would include data summarization and visualization output tools, season profile graphs, map-based path or run list toggle to display hazard rating or open/closed, and a regional summary of avalanche activity or snowpack information with hover/click access. I suspect all involved would have been happier with a longer and more thorough trial run by a small group of operations.

AS WITH ANY NEW SOFTWARE, there have been challenges and various bugs to work out with the new InfoEx. What this new InfoEx has given us is a platform to build on, which had been lacking in the past. With this stable program, we now have the ability to truly drive the product in a direction practitioners use in a valued way. The developers and project managers have created a workable program and now as practitioners it our time to organize our needs and requirements to help fulfill the various goals we are trying to meet in our work environments.

After several months of use, we should all have a pretty good idea of what is useful and what is not—what common ground we all have, and what is just static and noise to cloud the limited time we have. I have very limited experience with the workflows and data entry. Since CMH is not using these functions, I cannot comment on usability. Here are a few observations on the reports over the last couple of months.

PROS: • Stable program for development • Database for observations and reporting • Secure program and data • Operational software for some operations • Allows for a geomatic element to observations • Filter and query tools • PDF email version to individual users is useful feature CONS • Too much data in reports makes it hard to extract what is important • Web-based product faced challenges with browsers • User password and administration obstacles • Geomatic element restricted for operations with limited bandwidth • Formatting for printing is not easily achieved • Saved reports not tied to the individual user • User interface visual dull and somewhat hard to read • No way to default critical events so they cannot be filtered As a member of the IAG representing the mechanized ski industry, I welcome your feedback on InfoEx. I hope to engage your ideas to provide direction for as the product develops.

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Keeping Tabs: Getting More Out of Tabular InfoEx Data Cam Campell INTRODUCTION In the beginning in 1991, InfoEx was structured with basic tables for select weather and avalanche observations, and brief (sometimes colourful) narratives for snowpack observations, avalanche activity summaries, and stability ratings. There was no underlying database structure, which was fine for the primary purpose of information exchange amongst avalanche operations considering the limited resources at the time. But for the purpose of statistical analysis it was not ideal. Just ask Pascal Haegeli, who in 2004 laboriously filtered through years of textual InfoEx data for his Ph.D research into refining snow climates to include instability patterns.

The CAA’s Observation Guidelines and Recording Standards for Weather, Snowpack and Avalanches (OGRS) had already been around for some time (since 1981). In foresight, data codes were included as part of the recording standards—not only for ease of recording and communication, but also for the observations to be easily stored in a database structure.

In 2004, the InfoEx system was completely overhauled to include, among other things, an underlying database structure. The number of tabular fields for both weather and avalanche observations grew, and new tables were added.

Various data visualization tools were also created, including time series charts showing temporal trends and pie graphs showing relative proportions of values in a field. In 2013, the InfoEx system was taken to the next level. The number of available tabular fields is now mind-boggling.

The purpose of the article is not to discount the narratives, because most avalanche forecasters would probably agree that highly valuable information is often contained in the snowpack and avalanche summary narratives (sometimes between the lines). The intention is to highlight the usefulness of tabular data in avalanche forecasting. This article will also show an intersection of the OGRS and InfoEx through a review of databases and technical standards, and highlight the InfoEx database system with a time series analysis of the 2013-14 season until mid-February at Blackcomb Mountain.

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AVALANCHE FORECASTING Conventional avalanche forecasting is based on experience, intuition and knowledge of the avalanche winter regime.

It combines practical experience and science. However, modern avalanche forecasting is moving away from purely conventional methods and towards a combination of conventional and statistical (aka numerical or computerbased) methods for several reasons: 1. There are simply too many variables and too many situations that produce avalanches for the human mind to assimilate systematically.

2. Conventional forecasting techniques are based largely on experience and therefore take a long time to learn, whereas statistical techniques use established science and computer algorithms.

3. Conventional techniques often lack objectivity and can suffer from human factors.

4. Although conventional methods work well for identifying general trends, statistical analysis is often the best method to identify patterns in potentially important outliers.

Nonetheless, conventional methods remain vital because important information is incorporated that cannot be described in numerical terms. Statistical forecasting systems are often forced to omit important qualitative data.

DATABASES AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS Databases are organized collections of information that allow for inputting, storing, retrieving and managing data. They aid in modelling reality through a data structure that supports the relevant processes. For example, statistical avalanche prediction such as nearest neighbours uses a database of weather and snowpack parameters as well as avalanche occurrence data to help compare current conditions with past ones. Of course, accurate predictions of avalanche activity require a high-quality database with a long set of consistent data and good records of avalanche occurrences.

Regardless of whether you’re using a database for statistical avalanche prediction or to simply visualize data in order to identify trends and patterns, tabular data are required and technical standards ensure data quality. Any change in the way the data are collected, stored, or even named could have significant effects on the results. Setting new standards for emerging methods, such as a hazard assessment framework or terrain classification system, can be just as important as the consistent use of current standards.

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FIG. 1: TIME SERIES PLOT OF BLACKCOMB MOUNTAIN’S WEATHER AND AVALANCHE PROBLEM INFOEX DATA FOR THE 2013-14 AVALANCHE SEASON TO DATE.

TIME SERIES A time series plot is a simple visualization that can aid in trend estimation and pattern recognition. Fig. 1 is a time series plot of Blackcomb Mountain’s weather and avalanche problem InfoEx data for the 2013-14 avalanche season until mid-February. Looking at the time series shown in Fig. 1, a few basic trends and patterns can be identified: 1. Entirely wind slab problems with little snowfall throughout December.

2. A storm at the beginning of January results in storm slab problems.

3. With time and additional load, the storm slab problem becomes a persistent slab problem.

4. Prolonged, above-freezing temperatures near the end of January cause loose wet avalanche problems and soften the slab to the point where deep slab avalanche problems emerge.

5. Cold temperatures at the beginning of February stabilize loose wet avalanche problems and eventually deep persistent slab problems.

This is just a simple example to highlight the potential of InfoEx data and time series plots to aid in the identification of factors contributing to the development and stabilization of specific avalanche problems. Of course, with more advanced statistical techniques and a larger dataset, both in

terms of time period and parameters, it could be possible to identify more subtle trends and patterns. This could be either in the short-term (e.g. aspect/elevation/drainage dependant avalanche problems) or longer-term (e.g., synoptic-scale, climate-driven avalanche season dispositions in terms of predominant avalanche problems).

TAKE HOME POINTS • Statistical analysis of tabular weather, snowpack and avalanche data can help identify patterns and trends that may not be immediately obvious.

• Although there are some powerful computer-based forecasting systems available, statistical analysis need not be complicated.

• Data standards ensure that yesterday’s data will still be useful tomorrow.

• Textual narratives are helpful for conveying important subtleties that can be lost in the data.

Cam Campbell is the Chair of the CAA’s Technical Committee and an avalanche specialist with Alpine Solutions Avalanche Services.

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education & awareness

Important AvSAR Curriculum Changes Emily Grady

THE ABILITY TO ORGANIZE and oversee an organized avalanche rescue is important, but so is having the hands-on technical skills required to conduct a complex rescue at a professional level involving more than two buried transceivers.

Currently, students going through the Industry Training Program Avalanche Operations progression follow a succession of courses that include an avalanche rescue training component (Table 1).

TABLE 1: PROGRESSION OF CAC AND CAA COURSES WITH AN AVALANCHE RESCUE TRAINING COMPONENT.

COURSE PROGRESSION

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AVALANCHE RESCUE RELATED LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Avalanche Skills Training Level 1 No competency exam

• Demonstrate single burial transceiver search.

• Demonstrate efficient probing methods.

• Demonstrate efficient digging methods.

• Participate in a companion rescue exercise.

Avalanche Operations Level 1 Competency exam on technique, organization and time (two transceivers buried ~8m apart in 40x40m area): • Manage scene safety.

• Interview the witness and obtain essential information.

• Call for appropriate emergency response assistance with enough information to respond effectively.

• Visualize the terrain and employ an effective strategy for the signal search.

• Use a search strategy to conclusively eliminate terrain from future need to search again.

• Identify point at which two signals are engaged using coarse search.

• Employ micro search strip or another effective method to deal with multiple signals; use marking function.

• Fine search effectively and minimally.

• Utilize effective spiral probing and confirm the probe strike prior to directing helpers.

• Direct helpers as appropriate to the situation.

• Describe the contents and application of an Emergency Response Plan.

• Describe the five priorities of AvSAR including: safety, analysis and organization; search; rescue; demobilization; debrief and review • Demonstrate the use of an Emergency Response Plan and effective rescue communications.

• Demonstrate AvSAR Priorities 1 to 3.

• Demonstrate effective transceiver, probing and extrication techniques.

Avalanche Search and Rescue Response (prerequisite to Avalanche Operations Level 2) No competency exam

• Initiate an AvSAR response.

• Manage resources.

• Manage safety.

• Apply appropriate AvSAR techniques.

• Identify medical and evacuation priorities.

Avalanche Operations Level 2 No competency exam

• No learning objectives relative to avalanche rescue.

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FIG. 1: SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON OF GENSWEIN RESCUE-SPECIFIC COURSES AND CAA AND CAC COURSES OFFERING A RESCUE TRAINING COMPONENT.

A gap in training for students advancing through the Avalanche Operations courses has been identified based on the above learning objectives, feedback from industry representatives, AvSAR instructors, and the CAA’s Education Committee. ITP offers no information on higher-level and hands-on technical rescue skills such as micro search strip techniques, deep burials, and complex tactical triage. In addition, Operations Level 2 students are expected to have rescue skill mastery, but there is no actual confirmation of this skill.

Including the current AvSAR Response course as the prerequisite to the Avalanche Operations Level 2 program was meant to bridge the gap. However, AvSAR is geared towards big-picture, organized rescue, not the hands-on technical skills training required to conduct a complex rescue involving more than two buried transceivers at a professional level (as in the Operations Level 1 rescue exam).

Manuel Genswein has been a key resource for both the CAC and CAA in developing avalanche rescue-related curriculum.

For several years, Genswein has also been creating a training progression, from the most basic companion rescue skills through to advanced organized rescue. This particular curriculum is becoming widely adopted across Europe and has been introduced to many mechanized ski operations across North America. Because of his early involvement with previous CAA and CAC curriculum development, a great deal of Genswein’s material is already in alignment with recreational and professional courses in Canada (Fig. 1).

Genswein’s courses provide students with hands-on training in advanced avalanche rescue techniques. For example, the learning objectives from the Genswein’s Avalanche Rescue Levels 3 and 4 include searching an avalanche path and deposit efficiently and effectively for

single and multiple buried avalanche victims, determining and using alternative and advanced search strategies (micro search strips, micro box) to locate multiple burials in close (<10m) and very close (<3m) proximity, employing deep burial procedures as necessary, employing efficient and effective digging techniques, including very deep burials, determining and employing appropriate probing techniques (probe line, spot probing, position probing), and applying remote reverse triage (tactical triage) criteria.

We believe that Genswein’s avalanche rescue curriculum responds to the identified need for an advanced rescue skills curriculum component on the Avalanche Operations Level 2 course. Including Genswein’s curriculum in the AvSAR Response course offers a much smoother progression of avalanche search rescue skill development for students working their way through the courses offered by the CAA ITP. Therefore, as of next season, we will be redesigning the current AvSAR Response content to include Genswein’s curriculum.

We encourage everyone to take a look at the CAA website for course details early fall, and participate in what promises to be an excellent opportunity to brush up on life-saving avalanche rescue skills. Likewise, the content historically offered in the AvSAR course will continue to be offered as an avalanche incident management course.

For those students who have already taken the AvSAR Response course in its current form, please be advised it will continue to be recognized for meeting the Operations Level 2 prerequisite for two seasons.

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community

// KARILYN KEMPTON

Flipping the Avalanche Operations Level 1 Classroom Emily Grady “FLIPPING THE CLASSROOM” has become a buzzword amongst educators over the last several years. The CAA’s Industry Training Program is considering the model for the near future, beginning with Avalanche Operations Level 1.

The model differs from traditional methods, where first exposure to concepts and theories takes place during lectures in class, and students then apply what they learned through homework. In essence, the flipped classroom has repurposed classroom time—students are exposed to new material before class, through online readings, lectures, videos, and podcasts. Quizzes or activities are interspersed amongst the online learning activities to test and provide students with automatic feedback on their level of understanding. The instructor and students then devote class time to the harder work of analyzing, evaluating and applying concepts and knowledge through hands-on, group, field, and reflective activities.

For the CAA, the intent is to enable students to watch lectures, finish readings, and complete quizzes before the face-to-face training begins. Students would learn a great deal of the snowpack, weather, and avalanche core concepts and theories online, at home, and at their own pace. The pre-course online quizzes and tests ensure that students

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enter the classroom with roughly the same baseline of knowledge. When students arrive for their course, in this case the Avalanche Operations Level 1, they have the chance to master and apply these new concepts both in class and in the field. As a result, class time will include less lecturestyle presentations and more student-centered learning activities. Instructors have more time to concentrate on the more difficult concepts; revisit and explain the concepts that students don’t understand; support individuals and groups with more instructor time in the classroom and out in the field; and teach and practice the field skills necessary for an Avalanche Operations Level 1 course graduate.

ITP has bounced around the idea of incorporating an online pre-course to the Level 1 course for a number of years; it is now gaining momentum. We are researching the various costs and technical support required to create, implement, maintain and oversee a learning management system (like Moodle), and a developing a project plan to determine timing for a beta version of this course.

There is a great deal of potential in the online learning domain, especially regarding “flipping the classroom.” We’re excited to explore this next level of technology in ITP.

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Adding Value to the CAC Observer Network Karilyn Kempton IN JANUARY, THE CANADIAN AVALANCHE CENTRE LAUNCHED THE OBSERVER NETWORK, A FEATURE ON THE CAC MOBILE SMARTPHONE APP CREATED THANKS TO SUPPORT FROM MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT CO-OP AND TECTERRA. DESIGNED FOR RECREATIONAL USERS, the app puts avalanche danger ratings, weather updates and snowpack and avalanche activity information at a user’s fingertips.

The Observer Network adds a whole new dimension to the app—it provides a transfer of information among users, who run the gamut from inexperienced recreational user to seasoned avalanche professional. Users can share a photo, location and brief description using their smartphone, and those observations are shared with other backcountry users and CAC public avalanche forecasters. Observations show up on a scrollable map or in a list filtered by date or location.

Observations sent in from data-sparse regions without a lot of professional operations will be especially helpful to CAC avalanche forecasters, such as the South Rockies, North Rockies, Bighorn and Klondike Regions. These observations will also greatly benefit users in that area who may not have other sources of accessible information, or even an avalanche danger rating in some cases. This is where you may come in—when you notice something interesting in the field, please consider submitting it as an observation.

Your data will certainly help recreational backcountry users make more informed decisions, and CAC forecasters will have more information for forecasts.

Approximately 1,000 users log into the app each day, and there have been several hundred observations so far, most of which have been very good quality. Many professionals have submitted observations, and the high quality of information provided no doubt inspires others to do the same. The CAC appreciates the time and effort of early adopters—each observation does a lot to improve the app and demonstrate its value to users.

CAC MOBILE APP SHOWS OBSERVATION LOCATIONS // ILYA STORM

TECTERRA, perhaps better known for their significant contributions to InfoEx this season, supported the CAC Mobile because they saw wide implications for public safety moving forward. “First, the ability for the public to contribute avalanche and snowpack implications may help the CAC improve its ability to forecast in data-sparse regions,” says Jonathan Neufeld, Director of Commercialization Programs at TECTERRA. “Secondly is the opportunity for non-professionals to have access to an information exchange, where they can see what’s happening around them, see reports from skiers or other recreationists, and hopefully improve their pre-trip decision making.”

This is just the first step for the Observer Network. The CAC is creating a platform to build upon, so that users will eventually be able to add more detailed observations. Stay tuned for updates, including the ability to view and submit observations from a computer as well as on a smartphone.

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Mapping the Slackcountry Wren McElroy

LAST WINTER, RMR Forecaster Troy Leahey, his wife Jess, and their CARDA dog Penny came to Whitewater for a visit and some skiing. We skied around the mountain on Friday checking out the Glory Ridge chair and new terrain, as they hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been here since its installation in 2010. After a gourmet lunch from the Fresh Tracks CafĂŠ (turkey kofta with garlic aioli and coleslaw), an afternoon slackcountry lap was in order. After a short skin up the Upper Powder Keg Traverse to the area boundary, within 45 minutes we were standing at the West Ymir Col above the ski area. The ability to find fresh tracks after a very dry January and early February is part of what makes Whitewater such an attractive place to ski. This tour and many others easily accessed from Whitewater lifts have now become easier to find with the help of a new topographic route finding map of the area.

Produced by Trevor Campbell, cartographer and owner of Mighty Bighorn Maps, this map incorporates more than a regular topographic map.

The map is a 1:25,000 backcountry topographic ski map and guide including more than 20 colour route photos, avalanche terrain ratings, ski touring routes and trails with ski route descriptions. Founded in 2011, Mighty Bighorn Maps publishes a series of maps and guides for backcountry skiers and snowboarders using unique mapping solutions developed by CAA professionals, ACMG/IFMGA members and GIS technicians.

Creating the maps is a long, collaborative process. Local

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TROY LEAHEY AND PENNY DEMO FOR THE WHITEWATER FREERIDE TEAM// WREN MCELROY 04/04/2014 2:09:31 PM

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professionals help with different aspects of the map, since “doing it on my own was never as good as working with a group. There was so much feedback and editing of the maps that made it a better product,” says Campbell. Shaun King edited the Whitewater map, painstakingly going over route descriptions and details. Josh Milligan and I did the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) assessment. Other contributors were David Lussier and Kirk Jensen, as well as Davis King who worked as a field assistant. Ian Tomm and Cam Campbell also helped the project by sharing terrain ratings I had previously done for the CAC and BC Parks.

Trevor Campbell first skied as many of the routes as possible and talked with local professionals for local information. Next came aerial and ground-based photography and fieldwork for the cartographic production. The base GIS came from satellite imagery. From there, he was able to create a digital elevation model used to create the topographic lines. To make the vegetation layer, satellite images were used for the base.

Trevor used the aerial and ground photos as references for accuracy. The vegetation was classified into three simple categories: forested, subalpine or open. After that came the ATES overlay which I worked on with Josh Milligan. By creating a transparent overlay with Google Earth, we rated the terrain into simple, challenging, and complex. We made green, blue and black polygons that overlie the contour lines.

On the back of the map are photos and route descriptions of surrounding peaks and popular tours. Each photo has a descriptor box with route information and icons consistent with the CAC avalanche bulletins. Overall, there were hundreds of hours of painstaking problem solving and coding to ensure the correct details.

The maps are sold at Nelson retailers and have been very popular. The 2012 first edition is going to a second print run as shops sell out. As of March 2014, only 50 of the original 1,250 are left. Campbell plans on smaller printing runs to allow for more updates and continued accuracy. Whitewater’s retail shop also sells the Mighty Bighorn Map Series.

Whitewater Ski Resort has worked over the years to educate and inform the local user groups. The ski patrol visits schools every fall to present on backcountry safety and safety measures within and beyond ski area boundaries. Kirk Jensen, Whitewater General Manager (and previous Snowsafety Supervisor), designed a mapped sign that is placed at the top of two of the lifts at the common backcountry exit points. The map was done as part of Jensen’s CAA Avalanche Operations Level 3 course as a way to help communicate risk to the backcountry user groups. These maps also target general ski area guests at the resort who may be lured outside the ski area boundary for fresh tracks. This map is overlaid on a photo of

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the terrain, with simple, challenging and complex coloured cross hatches. There is also an inset photo from a historical slide with a 2m crown above one of the common access points from the lift. The sign has a slider bar on the bottom so that the daily CAC hazard rating can be posted. The sign has been well received and is a good tool for users to see a clear image of the terrain when their visibility is poor.

Whitewater also is a big supporter and part of the AABBS (Avalanche Awareness Beyond the Boundaries Society) which offers youth ages 12-18 a free AST course. AABBS is more involved than a regular AST course, as the students have to do pre-course assignments and homework in order to receive a certificate. The society has been able to do enough fundraising, with Whitewater’s support, to purchase 12 backpacks complete with transceivers, probes and shovels for students to use if they do not own the equipment. There have been seven courses in the 2013-14 season, including one over spring break for Whitewater’s Freeride ski team. Whitewater offers regular AST courses and one-day avalanche awareness courses. All of these opportunities help educate locals and visitors about hazards beyond the boundary. The Whitewater retail shop also rents avalanche gear if someone forgets an essential piece of avalanche safety equipment.

Part of travelling in the backcountry is being prepared and knowing where you are going. Mighty Bighorn Maps offers a user-friendly guide that is becoming very popular in an area well-known for the easy access backcountry/slackcountry skiing. New users and professionals alike are finding the map informative and easy to use, as CAA Professional Member Troy Leahey did last winter. On day two of their trip, I had to work and wanted to send them on another tour. After a CARDA dog demo with Penny for the Whitewater Freeride Team and a youth avalanche course for AABBS, Troy and Jess were ready for a tour into the Five Mile Drainage. Visibility was poor, and Troy found the map and photos useful. “Jess and I enjoyed the Whitewater backcounty immensely last year. With whiteout conditions, the map was very helpful. The mix of terrain descriptions, topo maps and oblique photos help the user navigate the hazards and great terrain in the Whitewater area.”

Over the years, I have seen a change in the awareness and education level of our user groups. During the mid-nineties, we had a significant increase in backcountry users and performed ten backcountry rescues in one season. In the last few years, we have seen significantly more users and marked decrease in accident/avalanche involvements. Professionals using technology to create better tools for backcountry users increases awareness and education.

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AVALANCHE ACCOUNTS Can You Help Me Pull Up My Pants?

RECENT RECALLS AND UPDATES

in this section 51 PPE GOES TO THE DOGS

55 SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING EVENTS

52 GEORGE KLEIN'S SNOW STUDY KIT: A CANADIAN INVENTION

56 IN MEMORIAM: TIM JONES

54 SETTING SIGHTS ON ISSW 2014 IN BANFF

57 IN MEMORIAM: WADE GALLOWAY 58 MIKE MCKNIGHT SKI INDUSTRY AWARD

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// MOTI

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Avalanche Accounts Can you help me pull my pants up?

Billy Neilson MY TWO-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER LILY STILL NEEDS ME TO PULL HER PANTS UP WHILE I DRESS HER. SO DOES MY FIVE-MONTH-OLD SON WALKER—IN FACT, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T EVEN WEAR PANTS. BUT WHEN YOU’RE A 34-YEAROLD MAN AND YOU NEED HELP TO PULL YOUR PANTS UP, YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN TROUBLE.

TELL US YOUR STORY If you have been involved in an avalanche and want to share your story, email us at: stories@avalanche.ca

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CHAPTER 1: THE DAY The day started as any typical backcountry day would—get up early, fuel up the sleds, meet at Tim Horton’s and hit the road.

Our objective was just to get out on our snowmobiles, see some snow and hang out with good friends. With work, holidays and family commitments, we don't play together as much as we used to. Today was about hanging out in the mountains: the cherished place where our friendships have grown from adventures together. If conditions allowed we might get a few turns in; otherwise we would be happy sharing some laughs and making fun of each other for who got their sled stuck in the most ridiculous spot. We headed to the Hope Creek drainage, north of Golden—a bit far out there, but the sledding would be great even if the ski runs weren’t.

Our group consisted of my life-long friend Dana Kerr and brothers Tim and Bryan Collins. We have been through some epic backcountry adventures. I trust these guys with my life, and they in turn trust me with theirs.

After a long, bumpy trail ride we arrived to the top of Privateer Mountain to check out the "money runs," a series of slide paths that start from alpine elevations and run to valley bottom (2400m to 1400m). The coverage looked decent enough to ski to valley bottom. Tim is one of my best ski buddies, and we decided to try a lap. The others would chauffeur us with their sleds back up from the bottom.

CHAPTER 2: THE SNOWPACK After 14 years of backcountry riding and numerous close calls, I consider myself cautious in the mountains. I hadn't had my head in the snow this winter, so we decided to do a full snow profile. I am a CAA active member with my CAA Avalanche Operations Level 2; I have worked Mountain Safety at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort for a few seasons, done some sled guiding and taught AST courses. Tim has been an avalanche technician and forecaster for CP Rail and a tail guide at Chatter Creek Snowcat Skiing.

We have spent hundreds of days together in the backcountry, and constantly "tech out" about snow and avalanches.

We dug a paltry 110cm to ground. We performed a compression test with a CT 16 sudden collapse, down about 40cm on wellpreserved surface hoar size 7-10mm (red flag #1). We then performed an extended column test and got an ECT 22 sudden collapse, whole block failure. This result meant that this layer would propagate if triggered by a heavy enough load (red flag #2). The rest of the snowpack consisted of 50cm of 1F+ resistance faceted rounds and a basal layer 20cm from ground, which consisted of depth hoar and melt freeze crust that seemed to be pretty welded together (p+). My deep tap test above the basal crust yielded no results, and in my mind mitigated the idea of a slide that would pull out to ground. Our concern for the day was a soft slab within the top 40cm, which at worst would run size 2 (at least in my mind).

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// RYAN JOHANNESEN

We decided that given our test results, we needed to be extremely cautious in our terrain selection and avoid big open slopes since this layer had the potential to propagate. We also wanted to avoid any heavy loads on this layer (e.g., no cliff jumping onto slope).

CHAPTER 3: LET’S GO GET SOME This was my first ski day of the season, so I was hungry to ski—but with our pit results in my mind, I also knew today was the day to just enjoy getting a few soft turns. Our first run of the day, both Tim and I discussed where we would ski cut and where we would regroup once on slope. We followed the plan, and save for thin early-season conditions at lower elevations (alder bashing and a couple of creek jumps), it was pretty good skiing. The snow at valley bottom was unconsolidated and hard to trudge through on foot. It took some work just to walk around my snowmobile; with every step I was sinking to my groin. I mentioned how hard it would be travel around without skis or a snowmobile, or—dare I say it—to move an injured person around.

Our second run of the day was similar to the first, with lots of discussion about our line choice and regroup areas. Our second run was, for lack of a better word, awesome. It was deep, dry snow; we each took some airs up top where it was open, and found better lines down low in the avalanche path

to avoid the alders near valley bottom. I was pumped—that was as good as it gets, and we did it all safely, or "pro" as we called it.

We made the long tandem ride back to the top, where we ate lunch and shared some friendly banter about the stuff guys talk about when away from their wives. Around 3:00pm, another group of three skiers/boarders made their way back to the top after doing a second lap. Jay, Tom and Dan were also doing laps that day; though we weren’t skiing together, we made sure each group was aware of where the other would be skiing. We asked about their last run, and they pointed to where they entered the slope, just metres from where our sleds were parked at ridgeline.

We walked over and saw three sets of tracks going right down the middle of the alpine start zone. We looked at each other in awe; "You just main lined it, eh? You crazy f—kers."

All day, wheels had been turning in my head about how best to manage terrain and avalanche hazard. Our plan was to stay high in the terrain by using ridges and shoulders, and to mostly avoid the big open slopes and gullies. My "spidey" senses had been tingling all day looking for any signs of instability, but we had no settlements, no cracking, and aside from sloughing from some of the steeper terrain we skied, no avalanche activity. The temps had stayed cool, and it didn't feel like the surface snow was forming a stiffer slab. Our

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confidence in the snowpack was building throughout the day, and seeing three sets of tracks down the middle of the big alpine feature only added to that confidence.

CHAPTER 4: LET’S SQUEEZE IN ONE MORE LAP I was ready to call it a day after the first two runs—not because I didn't want to ski anymore, but because the tandem sled ride was long and bumpy. However, seeing the other group’s tracks down the middle of the slide path, I thought twice about doing another run. Dana and Bryan, who were not skiing, grudgingly offered to do one more sled shuttle for us.

So there it was—I was already at the top of a 3000’ run with my skis on my shoulders and friends going to the bottom to pick us up. It made the decision way too easy. Tim and I clicked into our skis and stepped towards the precipice. We had a few minutes of back and forth conversation: "Should we go down the middle where those other tracks were?"

"Wouldn't it be nice to have a hand charge to throw on slope and really test what a heavy load would do?"

"It's already getting on in the day.

If something goes wrong, we have limited daylight to deal with an incident."

Finally, “Who wants to hop in first?"

I can't tell you what went through our heads and made us decide to hop on this massive slope. It is something I still wrestle with in my mind, but our whole day’s worth of snowpack observations, seeing three sets of tracks down the guts of this sweet run, and, of course, being jacked to rip a sick line with my bud, led to a very complacent, impulsive decision.

boarders who skied the run prior. We were stoked that we too could maybe get sporty with our entrances after witnessing a "heavy load" onto the slope. In my mind the puzzle was complete: four prior tracks, manageable sloughing and a heavy load yielded no results on slope. Let’s give'r.

With Tim waiting below near the trees and a group of three watching me from ridge top, I still was very aware of the avalanche hazard—yet I decide to pull the trigger and ski an aggressive line into the run. A jump turn onto a little five-foot cliff, then a heavy turn followed by another five-foot air onto the slope.

CHAPTER 6: AVALANCHE! It’s hard to explain what our brains do to help us cope with stressful or extreme situations. I am not a psychologist or a brain anatomy expert, but the best way I can describe it is that your senses are heightened and information is processed at hyper speeds (like warp drive for all you Star Trek fans). It may sound clichéd, but when you hear about life flashing in front of your eyes, that is exactly what happened. The moment I noticed the entire slope "puzzling" (technically referred to as the glide part of an avalanche) around me, I knew this was not something that I could escape. All my peripheral and direct vision downslope was of a river of snow rolling down the mountain, breaking trees and uncovering rocks. I immediately screamed "Avalanche!” I ditched my ski poles and tried to head for a pack of trees, which was futile since the trees I hoped to grab onto broke in front of my eyes.

My inner monologue played out at warp speed. I first thought of my family and mostly my little girl Lily, and how angry I was at myself for leaving my wife without a partner and my kids without a dad. The next thing I thought of was that I was likely going to die, and had no life insurance. I hoped Tim was out of the way enough to avoid the slide, and that I needed him to be okay to come rescue me if I was to survive being buried. Then the lights went out. I was in the slide covered in snow, feeling my body accelerate faster than anything I’ve experienced. I felt every tree and rock I hit on the way down. I felt my left ski rip off, and my knee got twisted and torqued into a very unnatural position. "Okay, one leg destroyed," I thought to myself. Next was the impact to my right leg. I felt the ligaments tear inside of my knee brace that I still wear from an old injury many years ago. "Good thing my brace was there, otherwise that leg would be completely snapped too," I thought. I felt my back, hips and legs scraping

I finally wiggled out of the debris and tried to stand up.

Splat! Like Bambi on ice, both legs folded up beneath me.

CHAPTER 5: THE AIR IN The whole day, our main objective was to move safely through the terrain and not put heavy load on that weak layer. As my partner and I stood up top, he asked if we should "rock, paper, scissors" for first. “Forget that, you’re the little guy,” I said. “Let’s see what your load on slope does before we send in the heavy hitter!" (In case you didn't know, I am built like a line backer and Tim is built like the place kicker).

Before Tim hopped on slope, he mumbled something about our irresponsible decision (another red flag), and then he sent it onto the slope off a 20-foot cliff. Tim snagged a rock with his ski on the takeoff. He somersaulted onto the slope, landed on his back, popped back onto his skis, and shredded five or six big GS-style turns out of sight and towards the "safe spot" beside mature timber at the side of the avalanche path.

I watched from ridge top with the three other skiers/

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GADSAR TECH SLINGING PATIENT TO WAITING HELICOPTER FOR TRANSPORT TO GOLDEN // GADSAR through trees and rocks, and I was actually surprised that I hadn't been knocked unconscious. I honestly wished that I would get knocked out, because I assumed I would get deeply buried. Three years prior, I had been fully buried while working at KHMR. I knew how terrible it was to be trapped under the snow; I did not want to suffer a slow death by suffocation.

I thought of swimming to try to get to the surface. I tried with futility to swim, but my mouth filled with snow. I decided it best to cover my head and face with my arms to avoid getting knocked out or having my mouth filled with snow. I put my hands on top of my head, used my forearms as a face guard and tried to be limp. I let myself go to the river of snow.

All I hoped for was that wherever I stopped it would not be in a terrain trap where debris would collect on top of me and make a live rescue impossible because of debris depth.

Near the end of the slide I got raked through trees. It caused trauma to my body but was actually a blessing—as the snow flowed through the trees like water, the surface area of my body caused me to ride up the trees and to the surface of the flowing debris. I saw light, and then more snow engulfed me until the next patch of trees spit me to the surface. This happened numerous times: dark then light; dark then light. Then, I finally felt the debris slowing down. At this point I knew it was time to swim—I fought and punched, flailed and wiggled my entire body. Then my body stopped moving. I could feel debris piling on top of me getting heavier and heavier, and I kept fighting. On one of my last punches towards the surface I felt air. My hand was sticking out of the debris. I fought to get both hands to the surface, where I could see light. I dug out my face and shoulders, took a

couple deep breaths and screamed, "I'm alive," multiple times.

Then I was in disbelief. I couldn't believe I was seeing light and breathing. I briefly tried to get my self looser, but realizing I was breathing effectively, I quit moving all together and thought I’d wait for someone to help excavate me. As I lay there partially buried, I thought "As if! Really, am I really alive right now?"

Seconds passed. I could not hear or see anyone coming to help me. After collecting my thoughts for a bit, I began to excavate my body from the snow. I knew I had felt my legs getting destroyed, but adrenaline masked the pain. I finally wiggled out of the debris and tried to stand up. Splat! Like Bambi on ice, both legs folded up beneath me and I began rolling downhill a few metres. I self arrested and lay on the surface, still amazed I was alive. After pulling myself out of the debris, my lower body felt cold and wet. The violence of the slide had ripped my pants down to my ankles. Lying on my back, head pointed downhill, I struggled to pull my pants up. I could finally hear the calls of my rescuers. I called back waited for them to arrive, pants half-pulled up and happy to be alive.

Tom got to me first, yelling to the others. He asked how I was feeling; I asked about Tim. My heart sank when Tom told me that Tim had also been caught in the slide. He was messed up but alive—I was relieved to hear it, and to know I wasn't responsible for a friend’s demise. Tom radioed to Dan that he had found me alive. Dan said in disbelief over the radio, "So Billy is alive?" and then "Yes! F--cking right, yes! F--king right, yes!" I asked Tom for one quick favour before performing any first aid on me, and that was to "please pull up my damn pants."

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GADSAR TEAM TRAVELLING BACK TO TRAILHEAD WITH PATIENTS' MACHINES // GADSAR

GADSAR TEAM PREPPING FOR HOPE CREEK NIGHT RESCUE // GADSAR

CHAPTER 7: SURVIVED THE SLIDEâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;NOW SURVIVE THE NIGHT The incident happened around 3:30pm. Unfortunately, the two most highly-trained rescuers were the ones caught and injured. Tim had his inReach GPS device synced with his phone, and Tom had a SPOT locator beacon. They pushed their respective panic buttons and got the wheels started on notifying the RCMP and Golden Search and Rescue.

Jay arrived next to assist Tom. As the one with the most first aid of the group, I instructed them to use our shovel handles for a splint on my mangled left knee. Next, I got Tom to undo my boot buckles as I could feel pressure at the top of my ski boots. I asked Tom to tie a tourniquet above my left knee to stop the blood from pooling to my lower left leg, as I assumed I had some internal bleeding going on. Next, they dug a flat platform in the snow and covered it in pine boughs to keep me off the cold, wet snow. While they dug my platform, I performed a quick check-up on myself. Upper body was okay.

I palpated my spine as best I could and found no midline back pain. I pressed on my hips and pelvis and aside from tenderness, nothing jumped out as broken. There I was, with a completely mangled left leg and what I thought was most likely a re-blown right knee. After a very painful (for me) and heavy (for Tom and Jay) lift, they got me on the platform, elevated my left leg slightly and used my pack as a pillow.

Believe it or not, I was actually quite comfortable given the circumstances, and feeling better knowing my injuries were not life threatening.

Working as a member of mountain safety at KHMR for a couple of seasons, I know the response time needed for a large-scale technical rescue. I told Jay and Tom that we needed to do everything possible to make sure I survived the night, because I could only be helicopter evacuated and no one would get to us until morning light. It was suggested that they try to move me to a cabin a few kilometres away, but I refusedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it would be too painful for me, and too exhausting for them as rescuers. After all, the first thing you learn as a rescuer is to take care of yourself; you will be no good to your patient if you are exhausted. Tom and Jay put all the extra layers they had on top of me, and Jay skied off to Dana and his sled waiting at the bottom of the slide path.

Jay went to the cabin, grabbed all the gear he could carry, and shuttled back to the top of the run, where he skied back down to me with critical survival gear. They wrapped me in two sleeping bags, and managed to remove my right boot to replace it with an insulated boot with hand warmers inside.

There were two extra hand warmers; I asked Jay to put them in my groin to keep me warm. Jay was reluctant at first to move my scrotum and put hand warmers in between my nuts and my leg, but I assured him it was necessary and we would avoid eye contact.

//AVALANCHE HATHA CALLIS PATH FROM BELOW // RYAN JOHANNESEN

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Jay brought some gas as well, and he and Tom cut as much wood as they could to build a fire. I asked Jay and Tom about the possibility of another slide coming down on top of us, and told them to leave me where I was with a radio if they felt in danger. They let me know that I took out the whole start zone, and they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel at risk for being hit by another slide. So there I was, two hours after the accidentâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;wrapped up like a burrito, going through shock and shaking uncontrollably, having a bonfire with two guys in an avy path.

We had radio communication with Dan and Bryan, who were with Tim. They decided to try to transport him to the sleds at the bottom of the path and get him to the cabin. From what I can tell, their ordeal was super exhausting. They had Tim mummied in a sleeping bag and dragged him downslope through waist-deep snow towards the sled at the bottom.

Hours went by, and then Jay told me he thought he heard sleds. It was around midnight and I assumed that it was Golden SAR. Adam Sheriff and Eric Brogno, two friends and former co-workers of mine at KHMR, led a crew of four into Hope Creek on snowmobiles. I was surprised to hear that SAR had arrived, knowing that they don't venture into avalanche terrain at night. Again, the biggest part of an organized rescue is to expose rescuers to as little danger as possible. But I also knew these guys would have come to help whether they were part of SAR or not.

Knowing I was stabilized and relatively warm, SAR helped to complete Tim's transport to the cabin. It still took over three hours, and that was with proper rescue gear and four extra hands. Dan and Bryan were exhausted from their heroic efforts. From the time of the slide until Tim reached warmth, it was almost twelve hours.

Next, I heard radio communication from Adam that they would go to the top and try to ski down some extra warming supplies to me. This was a big boost to my morale, for as great of a job as my two rescuers had done to stabilize and warm me, I was still in shock and my entire underside was soaked as I shook uncontrollably. Adam and Eric got to me around 4:00am, and to their amazement could not believe that my injuries were not more severe. They brought big heat pads, a Thermarest, and more dry sleeping bags. Eric came down to me and asked how I was doing. "You know how I am doing, bud," I said. Two years ago, Eric was in the exact same situation in Rogers Pass, where he was taken down in a slide and suffered numerous injuries, including a broken femur.

Seeing Eric and having him tell me I was going to get through it made me break down and cry. I had been so strong for twelve hours, but the emotion of seeing my friend, and now knowing firsthand what he had gone through was too much for me emotionally. Adam and Eric repositioned me onto the Thermarest, put big heating pads underneath me and rewrapped me in warm, dry sleeping bags. They left me on slope with Jay and Tom, and told me the helicopter would be

there at first light. Thirty minutes after they left, the warmth started kicking in and my shaking ceased. I was not as cold, but I could now start to feel all the pain from my injuries.

The last few hours were the toughest on all three of us. Jay and Tom were exhausted from spending the night tending to me and cutting firewood. My pain tolerance waned, as it had been over fourteen hours since the incident. I began to discover more areas on my body that hurt, and it became harder and harder to find positions that relieved pain. Seconds passed like minutes.

CHAPTER 8: HELICOPTERS AND HOSPITALS Then came daylight. Chatter on the radio picked up and our moods perked up, knowing this ordeal would soon end.

We heard the helicopter coming down the valley at around 9:00am. They did a customary fly-over to assess the remaining avalanche hazard and rescue logistics. Tom and Jay had dug a platform for rescuers to shift me onto the rescue bubble.

The helicopter landed at valley bottom and they rigged up the HETS gear, while Jay and Tom cleared the site of loose debris that would be flung around in the rotor wash.

Then I saw the helicopter approach with the one person I really wanted to see on the long line: Kyle Hale. Kyle was a former supervisor of mine at KHMR. The chopper set them down, Kyle gave me a high five, and they packaged me for transport. Once again I broke down in tears. I was safe; I was going to the hospital; I was going to be all right; I was going to see my family again.

It was a quick trip with the 407 helicopter on the long line to the cabin where Tim was, then a transfer to the big 212 chopper, and then we were both on our way safe and sound to the hospital. Shauna Speers, head of Golden SAR, accompanied us to the hospital. Shauna called my wife to let her know I was en route. One last time, I broke down and cried.

Arriving at the hospital, the doctors and nurses were waiting for us. They got morphine and other painkillers into me and cut most of my clothing off. The rest of the day was a blur of stretchers, backboards, and x-rays.

CHAPTER 9: HEALING As I lay in my hospital bed and relived the event over and over in my mind, the thing that stood out the most is how great the community of Golden is. From the friends who kept us alive in the backcountry, to the great work that SAR performed to keep my spirits high and get me out of the backcountry, to the paramedics, doctors, and nurses who provided top notch care through the whole process, I am grateful for all that they have done. I was inundated with visits and texts from friends.

I truly feel loved, and that is going to go a long way in my slow healing process. There is no way I can ever repay what people have done for me.

When it all comes down to it, the whole community has

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helped me to pull my pants back up and get me back to living a normal life.

EPILOGUE: LESSONS LEARNED It is always hard to interpret snow profile results. The answer is never black and white, especially when we are talking about results in the hard range. Getting a hard yet sudden result on my ECT test should have been the deal breaker for hoping on any big slopes. Why didn't I heed this warning better? I think I focused more on the fact that the result was hard than sudden. Having hard results in the past that yield no avalanches on slopes I skied probably weighed heavier on my mind than the fact that the whole block collapsed suddenly.

The lesson learned here is to put more weight on the fracture character than the loading step. Spatial variability and sweet spots for triggering cannot be seen below the snow surface, so we should assume that sweet spots are everywhere.

As I mentioned in the story, our main concern was a soft slab, potentially running to a size 2. Why did I think that a size 2 avalanche was reasonable to tolerate? After all, a size 2 is more than big enough to bury and kill you.

While my deep tap test yielded no results on the basal layer, it was inconclusive because the 50cm 1F# hard slab on top of the basal layer had faceted grains, and the grain size of the depth hoar and melt freeze crust were so big that mechanically speaking, it is at odds to think they would have a strong bond. I did not respect the basal crust/facet interface, and that is why I was not expecting a full-depth release avalanche. As Tim says, "The thing went Biblical."

I have always listened to my guts. So has Tim. Why were we so apprehensive about skiing that line, and why didn't we back away? That is the question I cannot answer, but I now know it will never happen again. All I can boil our decision down to now is that it is a very good lesson we happened to live through. After all, you learn from your mistakes or die. At least we lived through a bad decision that we will not make again.

The presence of tracks through the start zone of our last run was a classic decision-making blunder. For most of us, seeing tracks is a huge boost to our confidence in the snowpack.

I let my guard down. Both Tim and I skied that line much differently than if there had been no tracks.

Time of day was a factor as well. It was getting on in the day, and we kind of rushed our decision to go for another run, since it would soon be getting dark. Unlike the first two runs, we did not wait until Dana and Bryan got to the pick up. We started skiing as they were on their way down. When they arrived at the bottom, they had no idea an avalanche had even happened until one of our rescuers skied down to them nearly an hour later.

I usually have an FM radio programmed with all the emergency channels, a proper first aid kit, and my SPOT

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locator GPS beacon when I head out. However, that day I used my small pack and neglected to pack these essential items.

The SPOT beacon didn't get packed because the subscription ran out in the previous week. I hadn't re-subscribed yet because, frankly, I was just too busy and forgot. I didn't pack my radio because I had misplaced the charger, and the battery was nearly dead. And as far a proper first aid kit goes, it was just too bulky for my little pack. I only had a few rolls of tape and one triangular. I was more ready to go to the slackcountry at the ski hill than the remote backcountry.

We have unofficially renamed the line that we were swept down "No Pants Party." Unfortunately, I now have two neardeath avalanche sites named after me: the other is "Unbroken Smokes." There better not be a third.

I hope that you can take as much away from reading this as I did writing it.

STATS I suffered a torn ACL, PCL, and LCL in my left knee, as well as a broken fibula in my left leg and bad frostbite on my left foot. My right knee had a torn ACL, MCL, and PCL, as well as moderate frostbite in my right foot. I also suffered deep tissue bruising from my belly button down.

Tim suffered numerous lacerations to his head, face and arms, deep tissue bruising to his quads (it was initially thought that he broke his femurs), lost a few teeth, suffered a broken left heel, and has bad frostbite in both feet.

The slide was a size 3 avalanche that broke mature timber 60â&#x20AC;&#x2122; tall. Its average crown depth was 90 to 120cm by 150m wide, and it ran for 1000 metres to valley bottom. I was carried in the slide approximately 550 metres, and Tim went approximately 250 metres. This was a climax avalanche that should not have been survivable.

THANK YOUS First and foremost, thank you to our first party rescuers who kept us alive through the night: Dana Kerr, Bryan Collins, Dan Munro, Jay Ross and Tom Lopushinsky; all the folks From GADSAR who do a vital, yet sometimes under-appreciated, service: Kyle Hale, Shauna Speers, Adam Sheriff, Eric Brogno, Nigel Fisher, Cody Hoy, and Kevin Weir; the paramedics, doctors and nurses of the Golden and District hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; Golden has a great care facility and professional staff; the doctors and nurses of the Banff Springs Mineral Hospital; and Doctors Heard and Heemstra of Banff Sport Medicine for expediting my dual knee surgery on short notice.

Billy Neilson : Husband, father and recreational enthusiast. Ex-smoker and ex-avalancher (I can be around them, I just can't participate!). I am so happy to be alive and I hope readers get as much out of the story as I did writing it.

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Safety Goes to the Dogs Kyle Hale

CANADIAN AVALANCHE RESCUE DOG ASSOCIATION (CARDA) dogs needs to function in a very demanding winter mountain environment. On a daily basis, our animals are exposed to harsh winter mountain weather, need to travel in steep winter mountain terrain, and be transported by a host of means including chairlift, snowmobile, snow cat and helicopter. During an operational call, the dog and handler are often slung underneath a helicopter to access difficult terrain. Our teams routinely work in glaciated terrain requiring both dog and handler to be harnessed and tied into a rope team.

Lowering a dog and handler from a disabled chairlift or gondola is a routine training exercise for all our teams.

Much of the work done by our teamsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;both in training and in operationsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;requires both dog and handler wear a well-fitting, properly designed and certified safety harness.

The market for recreational climbing equipment is vast and as a result the dog handler has a huge selection of highly specialized harnesses to choose from. These harnesses are easily accessible from a variety of retailers at a reasonable cost.

The canines are in different situation, however. In the past, the selection of purpose-built K9 safety harnesses capable of lowering a dog from heights was very slim.

Those that did exist were very awkward and bulky, making it impossible for the dog to conduct its primary task of searching while wearing the harness. The harnesses were typically not built to any standards of certification. Often, dog handlers constructed their own setup, made out of scrap climbing equipment. If a dog did have a purposebuilt harness, it was only suitable for lowering the dog, and had to be removed for searching. When the dog was exposed, such as on glaciated terrain or searching waterfall ice, at times the animal went unprotected.

Canadian company K9 Storm has developed a custom fit, working dog harness that meets the needs of our active dogs. The vest is based upon ones designed for law enforcement, and has rated attachment points. Several of our dog and handler teams utilize this vest currently, and

WISER IN A K9 STORM VEST // BRAD LORRIMAN

those that do are continually finding to ways to integrate its functionality into our work.

After a successful fundraising effort, CARDA is very excited to announce that every validated avalanche rescue dog team in British Columbia was equipped with a custom fit vest this winter. The vest drastically improves the safety of our dog and handler teams. CARDA would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Province of British Columbia, community gaming grants, and all of our sponsors.

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George Klein’s Snow Study Kit: A Canadian Invention Michel Labrecque, Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation, Ottawa, ON John G. Woods, Wildvoices Consulting, Revelstoke, On behalf of The Land of Thundering Snow Virtual Exhibit Project THE AVALANCHE PROFESSIONALS working to protect the highway over Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park, BC, have a longstanding tradition of guarding remnants of their past. When Parks Canada recently gave archival researchers a tour of several rooms in the Pass, it was immediately apparent that the old equipment, photographs, field notebooks, plans, and stored data represented a virtual treasure-trove of Canadian avalanche safety history. By happy coincidence, the Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation’s (CSTMC) interest in Canadian inventor George Klein led to the discovery of artifacts used during the first days of modern avalanche science in Canada.

In the 1940s, while working for the Division of Mechanical Engineering at the National Research Council of Canada, George Klein developed a snow study kit along with a snow classification system (Bourgeois-Doyle 2004).

One of Canada’s most prolific inventors, his initial snow science investigations were for the purpose of developing aircraft skis for landings on snow (e.g., Klein 1947). However, Klein was aware of the interest in snow surveys for avalanche control in Switzerland (Klein 1949), and many other applications.

Klein thus developed a system to classify snow covers for his own purposes. His initial results were presented at the 1947 Joint Conference on Snow and Ice in Ottawa (National Research Council 1947). In August 1948, Klein presented a landmark paper on instruments and methods at the International Commission on Snow and Ice in Oslo, Norway (Klein 1949) which played a key role in the decision to form a three-person commission (G. J. Klein, V. J. Schaefer, and M. R. de Quervain) to work on an international standard for snow classification—a common language

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for scientists and engineers to record their findings (Schaefer et al. 1954).

The original Klein snow study kit was housed in a wooden box similar in size and shape to an attaché case (Fig. 1). Through the foresight of former National Research Council scientist Peter Schaerer, rare movie footage of the Klein kit in use has been preserved in the Revelstoke Museum and Archives (artifact A2013.22.2*). Photographed by famed mountain photographer Bruno Engler, the movie shows the field team of Jean-Pierre Priollaud, Howard Srigley and Earl Smith carrying the box to a snow study pit and using parts of the kit to make snowpack observations at the Abbott Observatory above Rogers Pass, circa 1957-1958.

Although none of the wooden carrying boxes appear to have survived, Parks Canada donated three instruments from one of two Klein snow science kits they had in Rogers Pass to the CSTMC in Ottawa in March 2013 (Fig. 2). By this date, the donated Klein “standard snow instruments” were enclosed in a red nylon kit and included a beam balance, a snow sampler (cylinder) and a metal bucket used for weighing snow samples. Valued for their lightweight design and solid construction, these well-worn instruments were in use by Parks Canada in snow research and avalanche control until very recently. The CSTMC also has a snow hardness gauge from a Klein kit collected separately.

A member of the Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame, Klein was noted for his pioneering work on the first electric wheelchairs, the Alouette satellite program, and many other innovations as well as for coming out of retirement to consult on the Canadarm project (Bourgeois-Doyle 2004).

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: We would like to thank Parks Canada for their interest and cooperation in preserving the archival record of snow and avalanche research in Canada and for donating the snow study kit and other artifacts to CSTMC. Peter Schaerer’s first-hand knowledge of early days of snow and avalanche research in Rogers Pass was indispensable to our understanding of the use of the Klein kit in Rogers Pass. Cathy English of the Revelstoke Museum and Archives and Jacolyn Daniluck of Parks Canada kindly provided comment on the manuscript. The National Research Council of Canada generously allowed us to use their visual of the original Klein snow study kit in boxed form. We are indebted to Dick Bourgeois-Doyle for his synthesis of George Klein’s story and for his review of this manuscript.

SOURCES: Bourgeois-Doyle, R. 2004. George Klein: The Great Inventor.

National Research Council Press, Ottawa, Canada.

Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame, Canada Science and Technology Museum http://www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca/english/about/ hallfame/u_i19_e.cfm (accessed 7 February 2014)

FIG. 1: THE ORIGINAL KLEIN SNOW STUDY KITS WERE HOUSED IN A WOODEN BOX WITH A HANDLE THAT ALLOWED IT TO BE CARRIED LIKE AN ATTACHÉ CASE // NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA

Klein, G.J. 1947. The snow characteristics of aircraft skis.

National Research Council of Canada.

Klein, G.J. 1949. Canadian survey of physical characteristics of snow-covers. Geografiska annaler 31:106-124 National Research Council. 1947. Proceedings of 1947 Conference on Snow and Ice, Associate Committee on Soil and Snow Mechanics. Technical Memorandum No. 10 of the Associate Committee on Soil and Snow Mechanics, NRC, Ottawa, October 1947.

Schaefer, V.J., G.J. Klein, M.R. de Quervain. 1954. The international classification for snow. Issued by the International Association of Hydrology. Published as Technical Memorandum No. 31 by the Associate Committee on Soil and Snow Mechanics. National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada, August 1954 * available for viewing at the Revelstoke Museum and Archives

FIG. 2: ORIGINAL ITEMS FROM THE KLEIN SNOW KIT ONCE USED IN ROGERS PASS, the STUDY avalanche journal spring //GLACIER 2014 NATIONAL PARK, CANADA AND NOW PART OF THE CANADA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MUSEUMS CORPORATION COLLECTION, ARTIFACT NO. 2013.0059 // CSTMC T. ALFOLDI caj_vol106.indd 53

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Setting Sights on ISSW 2014 in Banff Mary Clayton

WHILE WE’RE NOT EXACTLY on the home stretch, we’ve definitely rounded the corner and ISSW 2014 is in sight. By the time you read this, the deadline for abstract submission will be closed and the deadline for early-bird registration pricing will be closing soon—April 30. Congratulations to everyone who will be presenting at the conference. Now it is time for the rest of us to commit to attending.

If you’ve ever attended an ISSW, you know the value of the networking, the sharing of ideas, seeing old friends and making new connections. You put faces to names you’ve heard about, read about and talked about. And you get to spend a few days with hundreds of like-minded people who have chosen this dynamic and challenging industry as their career.

ISSW 2014 will have a strong focus on practitioners.

Presentations from researchers and scientists are required to include a slide on the practical application of their work, while practitioners are encouraged to discuss how research could contribute to the management of their topic. These requirements are aimed to make the purescience presentations more accessible and facilitate a better exchange between scientists and practitioners.

A new idea for this conference is Practitioner Workshops, where a panel of experts will engage in a moderated discussion on topics affecting their workplace. Organized by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, the topic of each workshop promises to yield a stimulating and thoughtprovoking exchange of ideas: • Avalanche Safety Equipment for Ice and Alpine Climbing— Not if, but how?

• Training, Certification, Qualification, and Scope of Practice—Who is qualified to do what?

• Does Compaction Work? —How, when, why, and why not?

• Avalanche Research—What has science done for us?

The workshops will be held from 10:15—11:45 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. For more information, check out issw2014.com/workshops.

For those from outside the Bow Valley, the ISSW organizing committee has rounded up some terrific deals on accommodation. The best bet is to stay on site at the Banff Centre where a room for two can be had for $62.50 CAD per person.

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ISSW sponsors play an important role in the success of the conference and this year’s title sponsors are TAS and Arc’teryx. In addition, the following companies have already signed on with greatly appreciated support: • Wyssen Avalanche Control • Black Diamond/Pieps • CIL/Orion • TECTERRA • Osprey • Mammut There’s still room for more sponsors. If you’re interested, email sponsorship@issw2014.com. There will also be a trade show and anyone wanting a booth should check the website at issw2014.com. And be sure to check out our Facebook page (International Snow Science Workshop 2014), as it’s growing every day.

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Schedule of Upcoming Events CAA & CAC SPRING CONFERENCE AND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS May 5-8, 2014 Ramada Inn & Suites, Penticton, BC Mark your calendar. You won’t want to miss any of the presentations, meetings or discussions at this year’s AGM. For more information: avalanche.ca HELICAT CANADA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING May 5, 2014 Ramada Inn & Suites, Penticton, BC For more information: helicatcanada.com

CANADA WEST SKI AREAS ASSOCIATION 2014 SPRING CONFERENCE May 12-14, 2014 Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Whistler, BC Spring Conference, Trade Show, Operations & Maintenance Seminar.

For more information: cwsaa.org/calendar3.html TECTERRA GEOMATICS SHOWCASE 2014 June 17-18, 2014 Calgary Telus Convention Centre, Calgary, AB An opportunity for the geomatics and business community to gather and learn about the latest innovative practices, new products and organizational successes in the Canadian geomatics industry.

For more information: tecterra.com/showcase2014.html

INTERNATIONAL SNOW SCIENCE WORKSHOP 2014 September 29 – October 3 Banff Centre, Banff, AB The ISSW promotes exchanges between practitioners, mountain professionals and researchers in the field of snow and avalanches.

For more information: issw2014.com WILDERNESS RISK MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE October 1-3, 2014 Atlanta, GA An outstanding educational experience to help you mitigate the risks inherent in exploring, working, teaching, and recreating in wild places.

For more information: nols.edu/wrmc

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// NORTH SHORE RESCUE

Remembering Tim Jones: A Search and Rescue Legend 1956 - 2014 Peter Marshall

ON JANUARY 19, THE NORTH SHORE and the provincial search and rescue (SAR) communities lost a true hero. Tim Jones, the North Shore Rescue team leader, died of a sudden heart attack while hiking near the rescue team’s cabin on Mount Seymour. Tim helped save hundreds of lives during his career as an advanced life support paramedic and over 25 years as SAR volunteer. Tim was also a staunch supporter of the Canadian Avalanche Centre and a founding member of the North Shore Avalanche Advisory committee, a group of partners dedicated to promoting avalanche safety on the North Shore Mountains.

I first met Tim almost 15 years ago. I was a young ski patroller responding to a medical call on one of the hiking trails near Grouse Mountain. Tim arrived on scene and took total control. I was amazed at how he could manage the patient, coordinate a helicopter rescue, direct other SAR members who were responding to another nearby call, and still have time to lecture passing hikers on being prepared and proper hiking technique. In many ways he

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was an intimidating figure, but there was no doubt that he was someone who did not hesitate making decisions in any situation.

Over the years, I worked very closely with Tim as a resource member and avalanche technician for the North Shore Rescue team. It always amazed me how someone could be such a dedicated volunteer. Tim easily worked 40 hours per week as a volunteer in addition to his regular work as a paramedic. He was passionate about saving people’s lives. People might describe Tim as a tough leader or a blunt spokesperson, and some may have disagreed with his methods. However, everyone I have spoken with agrees that if they or someone they loved was lost, they would want Tim leading the rescue. Tim cared deeply about every person that was lost or injured and he would do absolutely everything possible to get that person to safety.

On January 25, the North Shore community came together to give Tim a truly memorable send off. The memorial included a public parade with an honour guard procession and a very moving service that was broadcast online and over large screens in the venue parking lot so thousands could watch. I was immensely proud to march with North Shore Rescue and take part in this service. It really showed how much the community appreciates and respects first responders and search and rescue volunteers. Tim’s ashes were then taken on one last helicopter flight to his final resting place on Cathedral Mountain.

Our thoughts are with Tim’s family—wife Lindsay, son Curtis, and daughter Taylor—and his many friends and colleagues on the North Shore Rescue team. Tim was a friend and a true local hero. He will be sorely missed and will never be forgotten.

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// WADE GALLOWAY COLLECTION

In Memoriam: Wade Galloway 1976-2014 WADE GALLOWAY was killed in an avalanche in Waterton Lakes National Park on February 15, 2014. Wade was a strong supporter of public avalanche safety, raising money for the Canadian Avalanche Centre (CAC) through an annual fundraiser called the Canuck SplitFest. Held in Rogers Pass, the event features presentations by avalanche experts, donations from snowboarding and apparel manufacturers, and a strong message of friendship and safety.

“Wade first approached the CAC in 2010, telling us that he was organizing an event and wanted permission to donate the proceeds to our organization,” said CAC Executive Director Gilles Valade. “Through his efforts and energy, the Canuck SplitFest has grown every year. This is a great loss and his enthusiasm and dedication will be missed.”

In May of 2013, the CAC awarded Wade with a Service Award for outstanding fundraising efforts and celebrating avalanche awareness in the splitboarding community.

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Mike Mcknight Ski Industry Award THE GOLDEN DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION awarded John Cattie the 2013 Mike McKnight Ski Industry Award. The award was created in 2009 to honour the memory of one of Goldenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s community builders and longtime CAA member, Mike McKnight.

The award is granted to an institution or training organization for a nominated student of their choosing, who must be a resident of Golden with a history of community involvement and who is entering or continuing a training program for employment in the ski industry. Cattie will be taking a CAA Avalanche Operations Level 1 course.

Cattie has lived in Golden for six years and spends much of his time in the mountains, working for Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (KHMR) with the Grizzly Bear Refuge, brushing crew and ski patrol. He recently completed his Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of Environmental Studies in nature-based recreation and tourism.

The Avalanche Journal wants you!

WE'RE ACCEPTING submissions for upcoming issues of The Avalanche Journal. We welcome articles relating to the professional avalanche industry or public avalanche safety, teaching tips, research papers, avalanche accounts, book reviews, historical avalanches, gear reviews, hot routes, global updates, event listings, interviews, letters to the editor, humorous stories, and anything else relevant to those involved with avalanches. We are also seeking winter mountain photography: avalanches, terrain, touring, skiing, snowboarding or sledding.

Please email Managing Editor Karilyn Kempton at editor@avalanche.ca with your ideas and submissions.

The Avalanche Journal is published three times per year in April, September and December.

UPCOMING DEADLINES: July 1 (fall issue) October 15 (winter issue) February 15 (spring issue)

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FACT FINDER GET THE KNOWLEDGE YOU NEED TO ROAM CONFIDENTLY

Download the free CAC Mobile app for up-to-date avalanche danger ratings, forecast details, and technical analysis. The info is cached to your device so you can access it in the backcountry.

Developed by the Canadian Avalanche Centre in partnership with MEC.

Andrew Querner

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EVERYONE CARRIES A VARIETY OF GEAR // MARK KLASSEN

Recent Recalls and Updates

AVALNCHE SAFETY EQUIPMENT IS ESSENTIAL, AND OCCASIONALLY GEAR MUST BE REPLACED DUE TO DEFECT OR HUMAN ERROR. HERE ARE THE RECENT AVALANCHE SAFETY EQUIPMENT RECALLS THAT MAY AFFECT YOU.

AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVERS Pieps Vector In October 2013, Pieps recalled all Pieps Vector avalanche transceivers due to functional issues that may not be readily apparent to the user.

This recall affects all Pieps Vector transceivers.

Pieps has discovered that the functionality of the Vector does not conform to their quality standards and strict requirements for “Premium Alpine Performance.” Safety and reliability have top priority. In order to prevent any risks to users, Pieps has decided to implement this recall.

Please stop using the Pieps Vector immediately.

This recall applies to the Pieps Vector only. All other Pieps transceivers are not affected by this recall.

All private owners of a Pieps Vector should return it immediately to Pieps.

For more information concerning return and replacement, visit pieps. com/en/inhalt/pieps-vector-recall.

For questions regarding the recall, please contact vector@pieps.com or by telephone: +43 (0) 3182 52 556 -30.

Mammut Pulse Barryvox update In October 2013, Mammut announced a new Mammut Pulse Barryvox 4.0

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firmware update: “Intelligent Search.”

The new, optional update available for the Mammut Pulse Barryvox that will greatly optimize efficiency in the fine search mode. The goal of the update is to ensure that users have properly found the lowest point in the grid before probing.

Firmware 4.0 is now available on new Pulse Barryvox transceivers.

Firmware version 4.0 is only for the Pulse Barryvox; the original Element Barryvox transceiver firmware is still current. The upgrade for oldermodel Pulse Barryvox transceivers is now available. To find a transceiver upgrade location, select the “Pulse Barryvox firmware update” checkbox in the lower-right corner of the Mammut dealer search tool found at mammut.ch/en/apps/storeLocator. html Until this season, the Pulse Barryvox transceiver was running firmware version 3.2. All of the Pulse Barryvox transceivers Mammut shipped in the fall of 2013 came installed with 4.0. Owners of a Pulse Barryvox transceiver who are not sure what version they are running can see this on the transceiver. On startup, the screen will flash the firmware version in the lower right corner (older transceivers that do not flash a

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firmware version are just that—older versions that can be updated). All Pulse transceivers can be upgraded to the new firmware. This firmware is for new features and additional usability, it is not designed to correct anything so it is not required.

The service software is the program that upgrade locations and fleet managers use to install the new firmware in a transceiver. The service software is installed on a computer and uses w-link hardware to connect to a transceiver and perform the installation or fleetmanagement functions. A new service software version became available in mid-October 2013 that can install version 4.0. This is a free download from the Mammut website the same as in past years.

The new Firmware 4.0 contains three new features: • "Intelligent" search and probing indication. The fine search is where most users, especially beginner/intermediate users, spend most of their time in a search. The "intelligent" fine search and probe indication walks the user through the fine search using a series of directional arrows, culminating in a “probe here” icon. A video shows what this feature does: youtube.com/watch?v=pnEdjuzvhRo. • Expanded first signal display. The expanded first signal display allows users to transition from signal search to coarse search, which reduces both the area to be searched and the time spent searching on the avalanche site.

• Optimized direction display. Thanks to the optimized direction display, the search arrow on the Pulse Barryvox display is updated even more quickly using the integrated digital compass. This results in better and smoother direction indications and optimum directional guidance.

ORTOVOX 3+

Ortovox 3+ In December 2012, Ortovox recalled Ortovox 3+ avalanche transceivers. This recall does not affect transceivers available at and shipping to retailers in North America.

During search training, avalanche transceivers of the Ortovox 3+ model switched to transmission mode unintentionally after 120 seconds in search mode. Internal tests showed that a certain production batch of the 3+ can exhibit this behaviour. As a precaution, Ortovox is recalling all devices shipped to vendors after October 17, 2012, for inspection and a software update. These devices can no longer be used without an update.

Please determine if your device is affected by checking the serial number on Ortovox’s website: ortovox.com/3737-recall_campaign_3plus.html. The 10-digit number will appear on the display 2 digits at a time when the 3+ is switched on.

For further support, please email rueckruf@ortovox.com or call their hotline: +49 89 666 74 212.

AIRBAG PACKS BCA Float Trigger Voluntary Recall In November 2013, BCA announced a trigger upgrade on all Float packs sold into the marketplace during the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons.

Owners of Backcountry Access Float airbags shipped in 2011-12 and 2012-13 should contact BCA to receive a new trigger assembly for their Float Airbag. This alert applies specifically to Float 30 Airbag Pack, Float 18 Airbag Pack, Float 36 Airbag Pack, Float 22 (Blue), Float 22 (Black), Float 32 (Red), Float Throttle (Black). The affected trigger assemblies have a “lot” letter on the trigger handle, and the population includes lots A through E. BCA has received a limited number of warranty returns in which the retaining ring, or E-clip, on the trigger assembly has been removed or become dislodged from the trigger cable. The E-clip can inadvertently be removed or become dislodged in the process of connecting the trigger assembly to the compressed air cylinder. If this occurs, the airbag may not deploy properly when the trigger is pulled.

Please contact warranty@backcountryaccess.com or call (800) 670-8735, and BCA will send you an upgraded trigger assembly. The upgraded trigger assembly is standard on the 2013-2014 airbags and utilizes a hex crimp instead of an E-clip as a retention solution. Find more info online: backcountryaccess.com/2013/10/14/safety-alert-floattrigger-voluntary-recall.

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Mammut/Snowpulse Avalanche Airbag Service Bulletin In March 2013, Mammut announced a service bulletin for Mammut and Snowpulse airbag packs. Follow-up inspections have shown that there is an assembly problem affecting individual Mammut/ Snowpulse avalanche airbags from the winter 2011-12 and winter 2012-13 production seasons. The problem is an improperly screwed-in connector between the deployment mechanism and the venturi valve.

Since Mammut cannot rule out that this problem could result in a loss of function in the event of use, we hereby request that all customers inspect the connection in accordance with the following instructions.

If customers identify a problem we advise them to discontinue use of the airbag immediately. If this is the case, please contact Mammut customer services to arrange a repair.

The recall affects Mammut and Snowpulse avalanche airbags with Inflation System 2.0. You will find instructions on how to determine the production season of your avalanche airbag at mammut.ch/en/ airbags_aufruf_zur_kontrolle.html. The recall for inspection does not affect avalanche airbags made before or after these seasons.

Mammut recommends all airbag owners to check the connection as part of their regular equipment check.

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Snowpulse cartridge recall IN JANUARY 2012, MAMMUT ANNOUNCED THAT SNOWPULSE CARTRIDGES FOR THE “INFLATION SYSTEM 1.0” HAVE A DEFECTIVE PRESSURE GAUGE AND MUST BE REPLACED. CARTRIDGES FROM THE 2011/12 WINTER SEASON AND NEWER, AS WELL AS ALL MAMMUT AIRBAG PRODUCTS, ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. Sports Group AG acquired Snowpulse AG in 2011, Mammut found that the measures Snowpulse AG had previously taken to assure quality with respect to this problem did not meet Mammut’s high standards.

The Snowpulse cartridges (also called cylinders) are equipped with a pressure gauge, also known as a manometer. For some Snowpulse cartridges, after a certain amount of time a critical defect can appear. In these cartridges, this pressure gauge has developed a leak over time that leads to a drop in air pressure and sometimes to all the air escaping.

This can mean that the airbag blows up only insufficiently or not at all. To completely rule out the possibility of this risk occurring, Mammut Sports Group AG has decided to immediately recall and replace all Snowpulse cartridges that were sold of the first generation (Inflation System 1.0).

For more information, visit snowpulse.com/ en/recall, email helpdesk@snowpulse.com, or contact Mountain Sports Distribution in Golden for an electronic return shipping label.

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research 64 SURFACE HOAR: SIZE MATTERS

the avalanche journal spring // 2014

// DANIEL PI

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Surface Hoar: Size Matters Simon Horton University of Calgary

HOW DO YOU APPROACH AVALANCHE TERRAIN WHEN YOU KNOW THERE IS A LAYER OF BURIED SURFACE HOAR? YOU PROBABLY BEGIN BY THINKING ABOUT WHERE THE SURFACE HOAR MAY HAVE FORMED. DOES THE SLOPE HAVE A CLEAR VIEW OF THE SKY? IS IT EXPOSED TO SUN OR WIND? WAS THERE VALLEY FOG AT THIS ELEVATION? NEXT, YOU MIGHT THINK ABOUT HOW REACTIVE IT WOULD BE TO TRIGGERS. HOW MUCH LOAD IS ON THE LAYER? HAS THE LAYER ADJUSTED TO THE MOST RECENT LOAD? HAVE THE CRYSTALS BONDED TO THE LAYERS ABOVE AND BELOW? BY NOW, YOU’RE HUNGRY, TIRED, AND READY TO RIP THE SKINS. WOULDN'T IT BE NICE TO HAVE X-RAY GOGGLES TO LOOK THROUGH THE SNOW AND SEE EXACTLY WHERE THE PROBLEM LAYERS ARE? FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, my fellow University of Calgary researchers and I have been chasing surface hoar layers in the Columbia Mountains. We don't use x-ray goggles (budget issues, apparently). Instead, we rely on traditional methods to measure factors that affect the formation and evolution of surface hoar layers.

Our measurements are being used to develop a forecasting tool that will predict the distribution of surface hoar layers.

Our method is to use weather forecast models to look up past weather conditions in specific areas. Environment Canada has a high-resolution weather model that essentially predicts weather in every mountain basin in southwestern Canada (2.5km resolution). This means we could look up past cloud cover, freezing levels, wind speeds and other conditions in very specific areas—maybe even for areas as small as 2.5 x 2.5km. This could tell us which drainages had the best conditions for surface hoar growth: areas with clear skies, high humidity, and light winds. Mapping this information across mountain ranges could give us a sense of the layer's distribution.

That being said, we are most interested in where we are most likely to trigger an avalanche on one of these layers. Our fieldwork has found that size does matter when it comes to surface hoar. Layers with large, wedge- or feather-shaped surface hoar crystals are usually weak in shear strength and have the potential to propagate fractures over large distances. So in addition to knowing where surface hoar forms, crystal size is also important.

Luckily, we can use some meteorology theory and the surface energy balance to estimate this.

We have tested this theory at Mt. Fidelity near Rogers Pass and found that we can usually predict

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surface hoar size at our study plot within 2mm.

However, our accuracy decreases as we move away from the weather station.

Layers with big crystals generally produce more avalanches. However, it's not always that simple. The shape of surface hoar is sometimes important. For example, under certain temperature and humidity conditions, needle-shaped crystals will form. These generally result in stronger layers than their wedged and feathered cousins. We also find small crystals in combination with a hard crust (which is common on sunny slopes) behave similar to layers with large crystals. For example, last winter near Blue River, BC, there was a 2mm surface hoar layer over a pencil-hard sun crust on a south aspect. On a nearby north aspect, there was a 20mm surface hoar layer without a crust. We did compression tests, propagation saw tests, and shear frame tests on both of these layers for several weeks. The two layers behaved very similarly. The small crystals took a long time to bond to the crust, which made this layer as weak as the much larger surface hoar layer on less sunny slopes.

It's clear we need to know more just crystal size.

We need to put the layer in context of the entire snowpack. As surface hoar gets buried deeper and deeper, its strength increases in response.

Bruce Jamieson and ASARC researchers have been measuring these changes for decades. With the help of European snow cover models, we can simulate how some of the snowpack factors (load, temperature, etc.) will affect buried surface hoar.

The goal of my research is to combine existing models and field observations in order to develop an online forecasting tool. This tool will map surface hoar layers on a grid across western

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LARGE SURFACE HOAR ON A NORTH ASPECT (LEFT) AND SMALL SURFACE HOAR ON TOP OF A SUN CRUST ON A NEARBY SOUTH ASPECT (RIGHT).

Canada (possibly up to 2.5km resolution). Avalanche professionals could visualize information about surface hoar layers, including crystal size, whether they exist with crusts, and how much load is on the layer. A prototype is currently being developed for the CAA's InfoEx. There are two major challenges with this idea. First, the weather forecasts are unverified; second, the weather is not depicted over realistic terrain. We've verified these forecasts at a few study sites in the Columbia Mountains. Although they appear to predict realistic surface hoar sizes, we still need to do more tests in other regions like the Coast and Rocky Mountains. I am looking for informal feedback from anyone who can compare our InfoEx maps with their field observations in the 2014-15 winter season (please email sehorton@ucalgary.ca).

FIG. 1: MODELLED SURFACE HOAR SIZE FOR THE NOVEMBER 28, 2013 LAYER IN THE COLUMBIA AND ROCKY MOUNTAINS. DARKER SQUARES CORRESPONDS TO LARGER CRYSTALS.

Accounting for terrain effects is a different story. Surface hoar can vary on the scale of metres because of trees, and subtle aspect and slope angle changes. Variability at this scale cannot be captured with a 2.5km weather forecast.

However, we can try to explain some general elevation and aspect effects. Similar to forecasting avalanche danger or avalanche problems, terrain can be divided into idealized zones (north alpine, south treeline, etc.). In terms of surface hoar, the big difference between these terrain zones is their exposure to wind and solar radiation. We have been measuring exactly how much wind and sun surface hoar can withstand in order to make predictions in different types of terrain. With this approach, we hope to highlight terrain features where surface hoar layers are more likely to be found.

This isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite like wearing x-ray goggles that pinpoint buried surface hoar, but technology is certainly heading in that direction. At this stage, our forecasting tool should help people visualize surface hoar layers over large-scale terrain.

For those who forecast avalanches for a living, rest assuredâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; this technology is only as good as the weather forecast it's based on, which we all know is just a forecast! Human interpretation is far from obsolete, but computer-assisted forecasting is on the horizon.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The primary supporters of this work are TECTERRA, Canadian Pacific, and the Canadian Avalanche Association.

Other supporters of the avalanche research chair at the University of Calgary are gratefully acknowledged. Thanks to the ASARC staff for their field work and software development.

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runout zone

Flakes ROB BUCHANAN

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the avalanche journal spring // 2014

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propagation

REACH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE AVALANCHE COMMUNITY

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marmot.com

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CONTACT JENNIFER GEORGE JGEORGE@AVALANCHE.CA 250.837.2141 EXT.229

Photography: Gabe Rogel

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Location: Grand Tetons

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Athlete: Eric Bryant

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Safety is at our core At Teck we’re committed to ensuring everyone goes home safe and healthy every day. That’s why we are proud to support the Canadian Avalanche Centre’s South Rockies field observer team.

Make sure you get home safely – plan your backcountry trip with the CAC’s daily avalanche forecast at www.avalanche.ca Find out more about Teck at www.teck.com

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Canadian Pacific has a long history of operating in the mountains and we have learned some important lessons about avalanche safety along the way. Safe operations through the mountains requires constant observation, collaboration and communications between our employees and the Canadian Avalanche Centre. Together we are making the backcountry a safer place to work and play.

Learn more about avalanche safety at www.avalanche.ca.

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