The story goes that a young Lynne Wolfe persuaded Blase Reardon to get involved as The Avalanche Review's Assistant Editor many years ago. Lynne would go on to be the Editor of TAR for decades to come, bringing the publication and our community forward towards professional collaboration. In this episode, Brooke Maushund chats with Lynne as she celebrates publishing her final issue as TAR Editor and gets ready to pass the baton. In addition to being a longtime avalanche educator and Exum guide, L...
Jun 15, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 9Ep. 25
🎧 Episode Summary: Spring is here, and with the avy-ed season wrapped up in Colorado, Jason sits down with renowned mountain guide and educator Mark Smiley to talk about his journey from the Midwest to the highest peaks, and his efforts to reshape mountain education. Mark shares how his early experiences with Boy Scouts and road trips planted the seed for a lifetime of mountain exploration, and how a lack of mentorship early on drove him to build Mountain Sense —a platform designed to break dow...
Jun 01, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Season 9Ep. 24
In this knowledge-packed episode, Brooke Maushund sits down with Janet Kellam, who received the American Avalanche Association Bernie Kingery Award for lifetime achievement at ISSW in 2023 after serving as the former Director of the Sawtooth Avalanche Center, President of the American Avalanche Association's board, and being involved in the early days of the USFS National Avalanche Center. She was also the first woman licensed ski guide in Idaho, the first woman president of A3, and the first wo...
May 15, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 9Ep. 22
In this episode, Dom Baker sits down with the legendary mountain athlete Will Gadd, a pioneering ice climber, paddler and paraglider. Will has established some of the hardest mixed ice climbing lines in the world, set the world distance record for paragliding, and then beaten it, kayaked down dozens of first descents across North America, not to mention soloed the first one- day ascent of Canada’s Mt.Robson. Will has rigorously prepared for and completed high complexity adventures all over the w...
May 01, 2025•1 hr 49 min•Season 9Ep. 21
European Hosts Matthias Walcher and Christoph Mitterer bring you a conversation with Fabiano Monti. Fabi is an Avalanche Forecaster, Ski Instructor, and Environmental Scientist based in Livigno, Italy. He holds a Master's degree and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of Insubria, with specialized research conducted at the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) in Switzerland. His doctoral research focused on modeling snowpack stability for avalanche forecasting. In...
Apr 24, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 9Ep. 21
Episode Overview: In this compelling episode, Brooke sits down with Nina Marienthal, Lead Guide at Beartooth Powder Guides (BPG) in Cooke City, Montana, where she landed after starting her career heli-guiding in Alaska. After growing up the daughter of a heli-ski guide and ski instructor—doing her homework at the helibase every spring in Alaska while her parents were out in the snow—it only makes sense that Nina went on to become one of the youngest people to be an AMGA Certified Ski Guide. Curr...
Apr 15, 2025•55 min•Season 9Ep. 20
Therapy for the Soul: A Beginner’s Toolbox into Navigating Grief, Trauma, and Loss Guest: Jenny Fiebig – Licensed Professional Counselor, IFS Trainer, Outdoor Trauma Specialist Host: Brooke “Shiny” Edwards Recording Date: December 4th, 2024 Episode Summary: In this deeply insightful episode of The Avalanche Hour Podcast , host Brooke “Shiny” Edwards sits down with Jenny Fiebig , a licensed professional counselor specializing in trauma related to outdoor accidents. Jenny shares her journey from o...
Apr 01, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 9Ep. 20
In this episode, Sara Boilen interviews Andrea Manberg. Andrea is an economist and researcher who spends her time thinking about human behavior, decision-making, and risk in avalanche terrain. Having survived a pretty brutal avalanche herself, Andrea is passionate about understanding what motivates us toward risk and how we position ourselves to enjoy our pursuits while staying as safe as we want to. She presented at ISSW on her paper, Is it a man’s world? Gendered professional experiences in sn...
Mar 28, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Season 9Ep. 18
In this episode, Caleb sits down with Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg of Hood River, Oregon. Van Tilburg is an American physician and author specializing in emergency, wilderness, travel, environmental, occupational, and public health medicine. He is author of 11 books on outdoor recreation, wilderness medicine, and international travel, including three memoirs on mountain rescue, including Crisis on Mount Hood: Stories from 100 years of Mountain Rescue, forthcoming May 2025Van Tilburg is on staff a...
Mar 15, 2025•59 min•Season 9Ep. 17
Sean Zimmerman-Wall steps in front of the mic to bring you another great interview with Rebecca “Becs” Hodgetts. Becs began ski patrolling in the mid-1990s on Mt Ruapehu, a volcano in the central plateau of New Zealand’s North Island. She went on to work at other resorts in New Zealand, Canada, and the US. She worked 12 years at Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, first as an avalanche technician and later as Assistant Ski Patrol Director. She joined the Colorado Avalanche Information Center in 2013 and...
Mar 01, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Season 9Ep. 16
Ian McCammon , often considered the godfather of human factors in avalanche education, has a unique background with a foot in scientific research and another in backcountry exploration. With formal training in physics, materials science, and engineering, Ian started in R&D before becoming deeply involved in avalanche education in the 1990s. Following the loss of his friend Steve Carruthers in an avalanche, he was driven to study how experienced individuals make fatal decisions despite knowin...
Feb 20, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Season 9Ep. 15
Jen Reddy is a total low-key badass who sat down with Caleb for a great conversation about her work with Teton County Search and Rescue and the American Avalanche Association. Jen is tasked with overseeing the guidance of the professional training program amongst participating providers within the US. Jen and Caleb talk about her early years of backcountry skiing, a close call, and some influences that urged her to get involved as a volunteer with Teton County Search and Rescue. They discuss som...
Feb 15, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 9Ep. 14
Episode Overview In this second part of their conversation, Chris Stethem and Grant Statham dig deeper into the evolving world of avalanche safety, focusing on how decision-making frameworks and advanced communication practices have reshaped the industry. They begin by exploring the development of InfoEx, reflecting on how the system has grown over time and identifying areas for potential improvement. This discussion naturally segues into Chris’s early days as an avalanche consultant, laying the...
Feb 01, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Season 9Ep. 14
Episode Overview In this first part of a two-episode series, The Avalanche Hour Podcast features an in-depth conversation with avalanche industry legends Chris Stethem and Grant Statham . These two have dedicated their lives to advancing avalanche safety, education, and research, and their collective impact has shaped how we think about risk management in snow-covered terrain. The episode begins with the Granduc Mine Avalanche incident in Canada , a pivotal event that underscored the critical ne...
Jan 24, 2025•1 hr 32 min•Season 9Ep. 13
Episode Overview In this engaging episode, host Jason Antin dives into a captivating conversation with Liz King , a renowned leader in avalanche education and mountain safety. Liz shares her unique journey from her unexpected beginnings in Houston, Texas, to becoming a key figure in the avalanche education world. As the Avalanche Program Director for both the American Avalanche Institute (AAI) and the Colorado Mountain School (CMS), Liz oversees comprehensive avalanche programming, from recreati...
Jan 15, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 9Ep. 12
In this compelling episode, Brooke sits down with Josh Hirshberg, a veteran avalanche forecaster and educator with nearly two decades of experience in the snow safety world. Currently forecasting for the Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC), Josh dives into his journey through the avalanche industry, from early internships in Aspen to forecasting in Washington’s Cascades. Josh shares captivating insights about the notable February 2021 avalanche cycle in Washington, the challenges of persistent wea...
Jan 02, 2025•1 hr 20 min
In this episode of the Avalanche Hour Podcast, host Dr. Sara Boilen interviews Larry Goldie. Larry is an IFMGA licensed mountain guide and co-owner/lead guide for North Cascades Mountain Guides. He has been the snow safety director and heli ski guide for North Cascades Heli since 2005. Larry works on the AMGA instructor team, and teaches pro and recreational avalanche courses. Sara and Larry discuss the challenges women face in the guiding and avalanche education fields, the importance of effect...
Dec 26, 2024•1 hr 18 min
This episode features an interview with Karin Pocock. Karin Pocock shares her journey in the avalanche industry, discussing her experiences in both Canada and the U.S. She reflects on a pivotal avalanche incident that shaped her career and emphasizes the importance of education and training in avalanche safety. Karin also highlights the unique culture at the Silverton Avalanche School and addresses the challenges of being a female leader in a male-dominated field, advocating for inclusivity and ...
Dec 15, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 9Ep. 9
In this episode of the Avalanche Hour podcast, Caleb speaks with meteorologist Joel Gratz- founder of Open Snow, about the importance of weather forecasting for skiing and how it pertains to avalanche conditions. They unpack how much to weigh El Nino and La Nina on winter weather predictions, and Joel walks us through what goes into a forecast from OpenSnow. Joel shares insights into the features of Open Snow and discusses the intricacies of weather forecasting, particularly in relation to snow ...
Dec 08, 2024•51 min•Season 9Ep. 8
Ken Wylie is a Human Hazard Management innovator, formerly an IFMGA guide, and author of the book Buried. Ken’s company, Archetypal, provides high-resolution self-awareness tools for people who work in High Potential Consequence (HPC) environments across several industries. In this conversation, Guest host Brooke Shiny Edwards takes a deeper dive into the heart of Ken Wylie and the vision he has for (HPC) Avalanche Workers and the adventure industry. We recommend reminding yourself of Ken’s back...
Dec 01, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Season 9Ep. 7
In this episode of the Avalanche Hour, host Jake Hutchinson sits down with Gabrielle Antonioli, a forecaster for the Bridger Teton Avalanche Center and founder of the A3’s Resilience Project. They discuss Gabrielle's journey into avalanche forecasting, the importance of mental health support in the avalanche community, and the need for inclusive avalanche education for motorized users. The conversation also delves into the unique challenges of forecasting on the Going to the Sun Road, highlighti...
Nov 22, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 9Ep. 6
In this episode guest host Jason Antin sits down with Vince Anderson. Vince shares his journey from growing up in Golden, Colorado, to becoming a prominent figure in the alpine climbing and guiding communities. He discusses his early experiences with climbing and skiing, the early days of the AMGA, and the evolution of avalanche education. In this conversation, he discusses the evolution of educational practices in guiding, reflecting on his own experiences and the changes he has witnessed over ...
Nov 15, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Season 9Ep. 5
We start this episode with Jayne Thompson-Nolan stopping by to give us an update from the American Avalanche Association (A3). She highlights some of the initiatives and achievements from the last year, provides some member updates, and talks about opportunities for grants, scholarships, and continuing education. We then launch into an interview with IFMGA guide Evan Stevens. Evan is the owner of Zenith Mountain Guides in Squamish, BC. Originally from New York, Evan has always felt a strong pull...
Nov 01, 2024•1 hr 30 min•Season 9Ep. 4
In this episode of The Avalanche Hour , host Sean welcomes special guest Jess Shade. A high-altitude ski mountaineer, queer woman, and licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Utah and Michigan. Jess brings a unique blend of personal experience and professional expertise to discuss the intricate relationship between mental health and mountain environments. Together, they delve into the mindsets of those who inhabit the mountains, exploring therapy-based ideas that help individuals process da...
Oct 24, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 9Ep. 3
Episode 9.2: Dr. Sara Boilen Interviews Cody Townsend. Cody Townsend discusses The Fifty Project , a web series documenting his attempt to climb and ski all 50 classic ski descents of North America. He reflects on the transition from being seen as a fearless, ego-driven skier to showcasing vulnerability and the behind-the-scenes reality of the sport. Cody shares his experience of a traumatic trip in Alaska where he encountered his limits and felt overwhelmed by fear. He discusses the consequence...
Oct 15, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Season 9Ep. 2
Fall is here and winter is right around the corner! Welcome back to Season 9 of The Avalanche Hour Podcast. In today's episode, Caleb sits down with IFMGA guide and co-founder/CEO of Aspect Avy , Jeff Banks. Jeff's mission in life is to help people do dangerous things -the safest way possible. He's happiest when he's in the mountain mountains helping people live long & adventurous lives. Jeff has a 20+ year career working as an avalanche professional in the realms of avalanche forecasting, e...
Oct 01, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Season 9Ep. 1
In the last episode of Season 8, I sit down with Mike Peterson. Mike is an engineer and avid backcountry splitboarder who lives in Salt Lake City. He reached out to the show and wanted to share his experience from an avalanche that left him with a significant injury. Mike provides his honest reflection on trends he saw in his own backcountry habits, outside-of-the-mountain influences, and margins leading up to this incident. He had ample time while recovering from his broken neck to analyze how ...
Jun 24, 2024•53 min
Episode 8.29 Unique Summer Careers The Northern Hemisphere winter is over and avy pros are returning to summer jobs. For many, this is forest firefighting – a natural fit with opposing seasons and complementary skill sets. For some, however, the summer provides an opportunity to completely unplug from the challenges of winter work and pursue other passions. In this episode, host Dom Baker speaks with two ski guides who have each built businesses pursuing a summer passion. Kevin Armstong, an ACMG...
Jun 07, 2024•56 min
In this installment of The Avalanche Hour Podcast; Wes Gregg sits down for a conversation with Australian Ski Guide, Forecaster and Educator, Kyle Boys from Mountain Safety Collective (MSC). MSC is a not for profit in Australia that provides daily backcountry condition reports. These reports help serve a growing community of winter backcountry enthusiasts. We also discuss what the hazards are for the users which is slightly different from what we experience in North America. Kyle is back in Cana...
May 15, 2024•41 min
In this episode, we chat with long time industry professional Colin Zacharias. Colin has spent over 40 years working in the snow, avalanche, guiding, consulting, and education realms. Throughout our interview, Colin talks about some of the trends that he has seen within the industry as well as trends in accidents. He talks about how recreationists might learn from some of the habits of professional guides, and he recounts some early memories of venturing into the backcountry. Enjoy. Music by Ket...
Apr 26, 2024•1 hr 13 min
