ABSTRACT Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center, Inc
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AVALANCHE SAFETY ON A SHOESTRING David W Lovejoy Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center Inc. Flagstaff, Arizona . ABSTRACT The objective was primarily educational, to inform winter travelers of $1,800,000.00 potential hazards and encourage proper safety equipment and training. $1,600,000.00 Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center, Inc. (KPAC) is entering its sixteenth affiliated Surveys conducted (2005-2007) indicated that fewer than 50% of those $1,400,000.00 winter of operation as an unaffiliated, nonprofit center with its focus on independent traveling into avalanche terrain were equipped with transceiver, probe $1,200,000.00 Kachina Peaks Wilderness in the Coconino National Forest, Arizona. or shovel. $1,000,000.00 Winter precipitation is highly variable with seasonal snowfall totals $800,000.00 averaging 260 inches (660 cm), but ranging from <100 to 460 inches A record breaking winter during 2004-5 produced massive avalanches $600,000.00 (<254 – 1168 cm). During productive snow years the need for an and a few near misses. These inspired a group of local snow $400,000.00 avalanche center was evident, however, during droughts perhaps not. professionals, mostly associated with the Arizona Snowbowl ski $200,000.00 $0.00 Through trial, error, and imagination we have arrived at an operational patrol, to initiate a formal means of raising awareness and model that seems to effectively fulfill our mission of providing disseminating accurate information on snowpack stability. This was the appropriate avalanche safety education at a minimum cost. birth of KPAC establishing a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit educational institution without direct affiliation with any government agency. Our Figure 1. US Avalanche Center’s Annual Budgets for 2019-20 showing government affiliated vs. independent geographical location places us within Forest Service Region 3, where unlike all other USDA regions in western United States, no avalanche center has been funded in the past. In addition to this reality, other impediments to affiliation with a government entity include: CONCLUSIONS comparatively small area of potential avalanche hazard, low incidence of reported avalanche occurrence, high variability in winter weather and Critical elements to our success: snowpack accumulation, a growing, but small, number of winter 1. Local trust and support recreationists, and only a single incident of tragedy. By most 2. Minimal infrastructure expenses standards, the need for a federally funded avalanche center was simply 3. A dedicated team of competent volunteers/independent contractors not met. 4. Fair compensation for contract work performed 5. Resource Advisory Committee and avalanche course revenues in support OVERVIEW DISCUSSION of our mission 6. Excellent relations with outside entities (Coconino NF, Coconino County KPAC has the mission of providing avalanche education, safety At this point in time, we believe our response to conditions of San SAR, City of Flagstaff, Snowbowl Ski Area, local merchants and clubs, the training, and snowpack information for the San Francisco Peaks and Francisco Peaks is both appropriate and sustainable. A team of 15 field backcountry skiing community) Kachina Peaks Wilderness of northern Arizona. The potentially observers, who also write the weekly snowpack summary and 7. Good advice from and involvement with the USDA National Avalanche dangerous snow avalanches in this region have been formally storm/condition updates, comprise our operational foundation. We are Center acknowledged since 1977 when Dr. Leland R. Dexter and colleagues governed by a 12-person board of directors most of whom are also 8. Motivation amongst KPAC team members to produce a high quality undertook survey and mapping of avalanche paths. In his MS members of our team. We do not utilize the North American Danger product Snow Avalanches on San Francisco Peaks, Coconino thesis, Scale, but we use language within our narrative descriptions that County, Arizona (1982), Dr. Dexter identified 76 avalanche paths and convey equivalent messaging. Our area of coverage is modest and Overall, our operational model has proven effective and should be considered estimated an avalanche occurrence rate averaging 15 events annually avalanche frequency varies by year. However, conditions are still by other regions where conditions and circumstance are comparable. In based on observation records and tree ring dating of impacts. Early deserving of attention and public risk communication. Our most addition, when viewed in the context of potentially changing priorities in efforts to assess and communicate risks took the form of the San significant accomplishments have been through education. allocation of federal and state dollars, and the ongoing prospect of Francisco Mountains Avalanche Project (1979-82) by Dr. Dexter’s diminishing snowfall due to changing climate, KPAC’s operational model may group. This effort lost momentum and became dormant due to some Level 1 and 2 courses, and introduction to avalanche workshops provide options worthy of consideration by others. After all, avalanche safety drought years and shifts in occupational priorities of involved taught by team members have raised the general awareness of on a shoestring is far better than none at all. individuals. In 1995 a tragic accident involving a well known local potential hazards, and fostered the use of techniques for stability snowboarder marked the first, and thus far, only avalanche fatality. assessment and accident avoidance. Finally, the use of avalanche Concern arose amongst national forest managers, particularly since AKNOWLEDGEMENTS safety equipment has become the standard amongst local winter backcountry and out of bounds skiing and snowboarding was gaining recreationists. KPAC’s success in educating the public was illustrated Leland Dexter, Derik Spice, Troy Marino, and James Foulks contributed momentum. Also, the lack of preparedness and awareness of hazards by the forest service’s decision to discontinue the winter backcountry images or resources used for this poster. Amparo Rifa’s assistance with amongst many locals was evident. The response from the Coconino permit system in 2019. We have accomplished all this with annual graphics and editing was invaluable. National Forest was to implement a free of charge winter backcountry expenditures of less than $50,000 (Fig. 1). use permit system. .