The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center Present

The 2nd Annual 2009 Utah Snow & Avalanche Workshop (USAW)

on the afternoon of November 7, 2009

BUY TICKETS ONLINE

Wise decisions come from experience.  Experience comes from poor decisions.  Join us in sharing experiences.

Inspired by the International Snow Safety Workshop (ISSW), USAW brings Utah’s snow and avalanche community together to share local knowledge and history and learn about emerging best practices.  This professional development seminar taps into the vast avalanche knowledge we have in our own local avalanche community. You’ll hear about historic avalanche events and new innovations from avalanche forecasters, ski patrollers, snow scientists, UDOT avalanche professionals, search & rescue personnel, mountain guides, ski industry manufacturers, backcountry skiers & snowboarders, snowmobilers, avalanche scholars, and more.

Where?

The Depot, located at the Gateway in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Why should I attend USAW 2009?

Our local avalanche community is among the most knowledgeable in the world and this is an opportunity to tap into it . Experts’ sharing their experience is a great way for snow experts and want-to-be experts to learn and the master-apprentice relationship has worked this way for decades. The format will consist of 15 minute presentations followed by a 5 minute Q and A.

Agenda:

13:00-13:05 Welcome/Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center

13:05-13:20 Larry Dunn- New Snow Web Pages from the National Weather Service

The National Weather Service has made changes to the Cottonwood and Provo Canyon forecasts that are made in support of the Snow Safety and Avalanche Community.  Changes have also been made to the NWS public web page of mountain and snow observations.  These changes will be discussed and examples of the new format will be unveiled.

13:25-13:40 Bill Nalli and Matt McKee- The Other Canyons:  Big Cottonwood and Provo Avalanche Anatomy and Control Procedures.

UDOT forecasters discuss slide paths and historic avalanche events in Big Cottonwood and Provo Canyons. In addition, this presentation focuses on control measures and how it affects both the public and dawn patrolling parties. 

13:45- 14:00 Dean Cardinale- Avalanche Rescue Techniques: Partner Rescue Plan

Having a rescue plan is a critical component in saving an avalanche victim. Professionals spend countless hours training for avalanche rescue. A personal rescue plan could help save your life or that of a close friend in the unfortunate occurrence of an avalanche accident. This talk discusses the techniques necessary to perform a hasty partner search and rescue.

14:05-14:20 Toby Weed- Christmas Eve Logan Peak Avalanche Accident

This detailed review of a tragic accident focuses on the key players- weather, snowpack and terrain. 

14:25-14:40 Bruce Tremper and Tom Diegel- A close call on Little Water Peak

An account of the avalanche incident that took place during the notorious holiday 08/09 cycle in the Little Water area of the Central Wasatch.  A series of decisions led three people to cross a relatively innocuous-looking slope that turned out to be not so harmless after all. The slope avalanched as the third person crossed it, burying him in a tree-well. Though a deep burial, the small size of the slide and quick work enabled a successful live retrieval.

14:45-15:00 Ian McCammon- Critical slope angles for avalanche: A user’s guide

Avalanche courses teach us that avalanches are most frequent on slopes around 38 degrees in steepness. But does that rule apply to all avalanche types? This presentation will examine the 38 degree rule, when to apply it, and when it can get you into trouble.

15:00-16:30 Social in the Blue Goose Bar at The Depot- Sponsored by High Angle Construction, Utah Food Services and the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center (Must be 21 to attend)

Cost:

$25.00  BUY TICKETS ONLINE

 Proceeds from the event will go the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center to support 2009-2010 avalanche forecasting in Utah