Whitefish, MT - The 4th annual Northern Rockies Avalanche Safety Workshop (NRASW) will take place Saturday, Oct. 25 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish, MT.
NRASW is a one-day gathering of avalanche professionals and winter backcountry enthusiasts. This year the workshop features five speakers with varied experiences, backgrounds and expertise in avalanche forecasting, theory, information processing, emergency decision-making and other up-to-date backcountry information. New this year will be a panel discussion with presenters and local avalanche professionals focused on avalanche risk management in high traffic backcountry areas.
The full schedule for the day is available online at www.avalanchesafetyworkshop.com.
“For the past three years this conference has provided a platform for professionals, recreationalists, equipment manufacturers and local vendors to share expertise, experiences and cutting edge technology to improve avalanche safety in the recreational and professional arena,” Amy Moore, NRASW organizing committee chairman, said. “This year will be no different. The committee has been dedicated to making this an annual workshop as we feel with ever-increasing backcountry recreation in avalanche prone areas as well as demands placed on professionals in providing avalanche safety, the workshop needs to be in place as a platform for all of us to learn, network, and reacquaint with old friends.”
2014 Northern Rockies Avalanche Safety Workshop presenters:
- Simon Trautm is currently the National Avalanche Specialist with the National Avalanche Center, has previously been the Director of the Sawtooth Avalanche Center located in Ketchum, ID., studied snow and avalanches at Montana State University and previously patrolled at Moonlight Basin.
- Tom Murphy has been involved with avalanche safety, forecasting, and instruction since the 1980s. Murphy has just retired as the Operations Director of the American Institute of Avalanche Research and Education, and is a professional member of the American Avalanche Association.
- Greg Pederson is a Ph.D. educated climate specialist with the U.S. Geological Survey. Pederson’s academic career and current position with the USGS has focused on climate variability. His focus is studying the impact of synoptic climate events on snowpack condition and water supply.
- Steve Karkanen is the current Director of the West Central Avalanche Center located in Missoula. Karkanen has been involved with WCAC since 1999 and throughout the years has been studying, forecasting and investigating avalanche danger and avalanche related accidents.
- Erich Peitzsch is the Director of the Flathead Avalanche Center. Peitzsch was the interim Director of FAC last year and worked as a professional forecaster for the Going to the Sun Forecasting Program in Glacier National Park. He is also a climate change specialist with the USGS.
Where: Grouse Mountain Lodge, Whitefish, Montana
When: Saturday, October 25, 2014 8:00am to 4:30pm
Cost: Pre-Register - $20 or at the door- $25 Pay online , or mail a check to NRASW at P.O. Box 4203 Whitefish, MT. 59937. If you are mailing a check, still register online.
Registration fees are non-refundable. For more information please visit www.avalanchesafetyworkshop.com.