VOLUME 25, NO. 4 • APRIL 2007 Two Ocean Peak, Absaroka Mountains, Wyoming: Spencer Storm probes avalanche debris to assess the In This Issue average depth. He triggered the avalanche from From the Executive Director . 2 the ridgeline on a layer of buried surface hoar. This was the last day of Level 3 course with the American From the Editor . 3 Avalanche Institute. Good learning! SS-ASu-R2/D2-O Metamorphism . 3 photo by Don Sharaf AAA News Education Committee Update . 4 What’s New . 5 Snow Science Brazil Nuts . 9 Canadian Avalauncher . 12 Needles: Rime or Hoar . 13 Snow Terrain Smart System . 14 Education Another Perspective on Mentorship . 15 Mentorship Goals . 15 Career Perspectives . 16 Flux-Line Man . 16 Crown Profiles ISSW Ladies Night . 17 Ed LaChapelle . 18 Ascending Spiral . 21 There’s a lot of basic common sense and good judgment factors that you don’t have to have a slide The Avalanche Review P.O. Box 2831 rule to use…the important thing Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 is terrain recognition. Good route finding is the secret of staying out of avalanche trouble. —Ed LaChapelle, from Alpenglow Ski History project, p20 u PAGE 2 THE AVALANCHE REVIEW VOL. 25, NO. 4, APRIL 2007 THE from the executive director It’s mid-February, and we’re all deep into top-flight instructor team we’ve assembled. This winter’s REVIEW the winter now. It’s been a busy winter. Hey, it’s always course was held at Bridger Bowl, Montana, and we hope to busy – sometimes it’s just busier. As February began in expand from one course offering per winter to up to three APRIL 2007 • VOL. 25 • NUMBER 4 this end of the San Juans, we had our first avalanche in different locations in the western U.S. in the near future. fatality (details can be found on the CAIC Web site) in See the PAWS course report in this issue on page 6. The Avalanche Review is published each fall through spring by 20 years. Keeping the wheels of the American Avalanche Our instructor-certification program, which began the American Avalanche Association, Inc., a non-profit corpora- Association turning, along with highway forecasting and in 2003, has certified 31 instructors to date. AAA tion. The Avalanche Review welcomes the submission of articles, running a hut business, can be about all one can handle. instructor certification enjoys the support of Rod photographs and illustrations. Fortunately we have a great crew at AAA, each keeping Newcomb’s American Avalanche Institute and the Please send submissions to: Editorial Assistants: a part of the whole running smoothly and of course my American Association of Avalanche Research and Lynne Wolfe –– Editor Ron Matous wife, Sandy Kobrock, who is always ready to step up Education (AIARE). AAA is currently reviewing our PO Box 1135 Ellie Martin Driggs, Idaho 83422 Sarah Carpenter when things just get too crazy. Thanks. Avalanche Course Guidelines for the first time in nearly tel: (208) 709-4073 So, what’s happening with AAA you ask? Your eight years. Education Committee members will present [email protected] membership dues remain the main source of funds for a draft at our spring Governing Board meeting, then a your Association. The membership of AAA has increased period of member review will the follow. More about Advertising: Production: Jazz Russell Fall Line Design by about 12% during my five years as executive director this in this issue of TAR on page 4. 370 N 110 E 76 N Main, Suite 208 with almost 750 members – nearly 500 are Professional or Financially, AAA is in a very strong position due in Driggs, ID 83422 Driggs, ID 83422 Affiliate Members. The greatest increase is in the number large part to SWAG sales and generous donations made tel: (208) 354-2524 tel/fax: (208) 354-6500 of Professional Members: 357 as of the fall of ’06. The rest by members in addition to their annual dues. AAA looks fax: (208) 354-6500 [email protected] [email protected] are paid or complimentary subscribers to The Avalanche for groups and individuals to partner with in order to Review. We have another strong group of professional advance our mutual goals: promoting high standards of Business and Subscription Office: Mark Mueller –– AAA Executive Director and affiliate applicants for this spring. The current level professional competence and advancing the pursuit of P.O.Box 2831 of dues has been maintained for over 10 years despite avalanche safety through both professional development Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 rising costs. We will try to keep costs reasonable, as and recreational-user education (and maybe drink a beer tel: (970) 946-0822 fax: (970) 731-2486 affordability is an issue for many who choose to pursue a or two along the way). We continue to provide grants for [email protected] life in the mountains. For as many members as we gain, we both academic and practitioner research. Interested persons seem to have an equal number lose interest for whatever can get additional information about grants on our Web reason and leave the organization. Thanks to all members site: www.americanavalancheassociation.org. who have made the effort to promote AAA among their The AAA Governing Board consists of 24 professional colleagues and increase our membership. Members can members representing all aspects of the avalanche field: now renew their membership online at our Web site. New forecasters, researchers, educators, a government snow member applicants cannot use the Web site to join due to ranger, ski-area operators, snow-safety directors, and Executive Director ..........................Mark Mueller the resumé requirement. technicians. Many are engaged in multiple activities in the AAA Officers The founders of AAA envisioned it as an organization snow and avalanche field. Newly elected board members *President ......................................Janet Kellam that would foster communication between snow and began their two-year stint on January 1, led by our new *Vice President ..............................Doug Richmond *Secretary ......................................Andy Gleason avalanche professionals in the United States and president Janet Kellam, director of the Sawtooth National *Treasurer ......................................Bill Glude abroad. Our publication, The Avalanche Review (TAR), Forest Avalanche Center. Committee Chairs is the vehicle that facilitates that communication and Entering my sixth year as executive director, I believe Awards .........................................Denny Hogan remains our primary focus. In recent years we have the main challenge that AAA faces is continuing to Data ............................................Dan Judd Education ....................................Michael Jackson begun to print TAR in color and expanded its content. create and maintain value in AAA membership. We Ethics ..........................................Lel Tone We are very lucky to have a dedicated editor in Lynne are geographically far flung and basically have me as Membership .................................Stuart Thompson Wolfe and an enthusiastic designer in Karen Russell. the only paid part-time staff person. We are planning Research .....................................H.P. Marshall Search & Rescue .........................Dale Atkins One can now subscribe to TAR online at our Web a Professional Development/Continuing Education Ski Area .......................................Bill Williamson site: www.americanavalancheassociation.org. This meeting for the fall of 2007. Details will be in our Standards Awareness ..................Craig Sterbenz should help our international members in particular summer letter and will be posted on the Web site. I look *Publications ................................Blase Reardon with the hassle of currency exchange now eliminated. to the internet to streamline some of our operation and Publications Committee Editor ...........................................Lynne Wolfe Payments are made through PayPal, an online secure help keep AAA in touch with our membership and the Editorial Assistants ................. ...Ellie Martin, Sarah Carpenter payment service. I have used PayPal for many years membership in touch with one another. We’re working Editor Emeritus ............................Steve Conger without any problems. on making some of those things happen, starting with Editor Emeritus ............................Sue Ferguson Editor Emeritus ............................Blase Reardon The publication of Snow, Weather, and Avalanche renewing memberships online. Editor Emeritus ............................Bruce Tremper Observational Guidelines, (SWAG) continues to be a success By the time you read this, winter will be winding down Web Asst ......................................Jay Gress, Karl Birkeland, story. We just did our third printing and sales continue to for most of us. The next AAA Governing Board meeting is Janet Kellam, Gary Murphy be steady if not strong. About 2200 copies of SWAG are scheduled for April 21 at Alpine Meadows, CA. For those Section Representatives Alaska…............................. ........Carl Skustad in use across the U.S. and worldwide; the proceeds from traveling to or residing in the southern hemisphere, I wish Eastern Section ...........................Kyle Tyler sales have strengthened our financial situation. SWAG is you a safe and successful winter. On a hot summer day European Section .........................Peter Höller a part of an increasing number of U.S. avalanche schools cutting firewood I’ll cast a glance to the south and think Intermountain North