TH E A Publication of the American Avalanche Association RE V I E W VOLUME 21, NO. 4 • JUNE 2003 Website: www.a v a l a n c h e . o rg / ~ a a a p US $4.95 André Roch A Lifetime of Contributions Compiled by Steve Conger Cover photo by Julie Hesse Inside photos by Ed LaChepelle ndré Roch was born at the foot of the Alps in Geneva, Switzerland in 1906. A He passed away in November 2002 In This Issue following a full life exploring the mountains and great influence on his craft ................... From the Director 2 and the people around him. Metamorphism ........................ 2 AAA News His Autobiography Spring Board Meeting ............. 4 Bernie Kingery Award ............. 5 The information presented here comes Awards Nominations ............... 5 f rom several sources. The first one explored is what he described as “his life What’s New CIL Orion Products .................. 6 in 12 chapters,” a manuscript sent to Bruce Ripcords for Riders ................. 7 Tremper titled “My Old Friends – Mammut Training Center ......... 7 Automated Storm Board ...........8 Avalanches,” and published in T h e Tranceiver Survey Request ....... 9 Avalanche Review, Volume 11, 2-4. Media He opens his life story with this quote: Snowpilot Software ................. 9 “It is impossible to judge the temper of a slope Snowflake Bentley Review ...... 10 Presentations ......................... 10 to a nicety. Skiing is great fun; but an avalanche is about as funny as a cobra, when Snow Science you step on it unawares. Both are beautiful Ski Stabilization ..................... 11 Accidents & Danger Scale ....... 13 sights from a distance.” (W.R. Rickmers) Reprints ................................. 15 Crown Profiles Breaking the Chain ................. 18 Continued on page 18 Camp Slide Cycle .................... 19 Happytop Accident Report .......20 PAGE 2 THE AVALANCHE REVIEW VOL. 21, NO. 4, JUNE 2003 THE FROM THE DIRECTOR: MARK MUELLER REVIEW here I was, driving along, doing the road patrol for the Colorado Highway Department, and looking T for avalanches. At Wolf Creek Pass, it snowed more JUNE 2003 • VOL. 21 • NUMBER 4 in February than the first three months of our winter combined. As February progressed, it snowed more each The Avalanche Review is published each fall through spring by the American Avalanche Association, Inc., a week with the final week culminating in over four feet of non-profit corporation. The Avalanche Review welcomes new snow. The avalanches had been getting bigger as the submission of articles, photographs and illustrations. well, but the pass had remained open and everyone was Please send submissions to: safe and happy. I was dreaming of finally getting some Blase Reardon –– Editor rest, taking the remainder of the day off (I work solo) and 636 Columbia Avenue Whitefish, Montana 59937 hitting the local hot springs for a good soak after days of tel: (406) 862-0812 sometimes brutal trail breaking during field work: (406) 888-7926 reconnaissance. Feeling pretty satisfied and on top of it, I [email protected], [email protected] rounded a corner to check out the last spot, Alberta’s View of Alberta’s Cousin slide path and snow shed, US Cousin, and there it was; a big soft slab, with a wall-to- Highway 160, Wolf Creek Pass. Photo by Mark Mueller. Advertising : wall crown, three to five feet deep. My heart sunk, no, I Halsted Morris –– Advertising Coordinator obviously didn’t have it together and there went my soak. from the membership will surely be appreciated and can correct address should be: be submitted to the Governing Board by emailing 867 unit A Sure, it didn’t affect the highway, but this didn’t match Hill and Dale Road my analysis of things: recent ski tests had been negative, [email protected]. Snail mail and phone calls work as Golden, CO results with the launcher were only sluffs, and other well. Check the A A A contact information on T h e 80401-8580 [email protected] observed naturals had been pretty shallow with little Avalanche Review’s masthead. Information about time, tel 720-746-1542 propagation. As forecasters and avalanche professionals location, and theme will be sent to everyone as a mailed fax 720-746-1543 we take pride in the intimate local knowledge we possess announcement this summer. Business and Subscription Office: about our areas of responsibility. But we have to be Mark Mueller –– AAA Executive Director careful that that knowledge doesn’t force us into a rut- I want to thank the Editors, designers, and P.O.Box 2831 “oh, that slide behaves in this manner.” Obviously some contributing authors for their hard work in producing Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 of that attitude is necessary and good, but just how much? this year’s Avalanche Review. TAR is the most prominent [email protected] We’ve read and heard a lot about the human factor, product AAA produces with the aim of getting up-to- tel: (970) 946-0822 heuristics, and their workings. It is really interesting and date avalanche information to you: and it may be the fax: (970) 731-2486 pertinent because it applies to everyone, novice to reason that many of you support AAA. The American seasoned pro. The recent and not- so- recent works on the Avalanche importance of trying to understand our decision-making The AAACertified Avalanche Instructor program has Association processes are vital contributions to avalanche safety for been up and running since early this winter. Details both recreationists and professionals. Thanks to those about qualifications are in TAR 21-2 and on the Westwide folks for looking into this aspect of avalanche safety and Avalanche Network at www. a v a l a n c h e . o rg / for sharing their findings. ~aaap/membership.html. My congratulations to those Executive Director ..................Mark Mueller Many of us are dealing with exceptionally fragile individuals accepted as Certified Instructors. AAA Officers snowpacks this winter and February brought abundant *President..........................Russ Johnson snowfall to many areas. After a relatively quiet early By the time you read this, spring will be here and *Vice President...................Bill Williamson winter, news of avalanche incidents and fatalities are cold, deep powder will be slowly replaced by soft, silky *Secretary ..........................Andy Gleason being heard more and more. Be safe out there. corn snow and afternoons on the sundeck….with the *Treasurer..........................Dave Ream usual spring snowstorm interruption, of course. I wish Committee Chairs A A A will be organizing a continuing education you all you all an enjoyable summer, and a safe winter to Awards...............................Denny Hogan Data...................................Dan Judd avalanche workshop to for this fall that will coincide with our members and readers in the southern hemisphere. Education............................Don Sharaf our fall Annual Meeting. Earlier workshops have had See you next fall. Ethics ................................Janet Kellam themes organized around avalanche education and Membership........................Stuart Thompson explosives handling. The location, time, and theme for — Mark Mueller, Executive Director Research............................Ethan Greene Search & Rescue.................Dale Atkins this fall’s workshop are in the planning stages now. Ideas Ski Area ............................Onno Wieringa ❊ Standards Awareness..........Craig Sterbenz *Publications.......................Steve Conger Publications Committee Editor.................................Blase Reardon M E TA M O R P H I S M Assistant Editor ................. Lynne Wolfe Editor Emeritus...................Steve Conger Editor Emeritus...................Sue Ferguson than Greene, Greeley, CO, has been accepted as an classes for the Silverton Avalanche School and the Editor Emeritus...................Bruce Tremper Advertising..........................Halsted Morris A A A Certified Avalanche Instru c t o r. To m American Avalanche Institute. He has worked the last Web Asst...........................Jay Gress, E Kimbrough, Salt Lake City, UT, has retired after few seasons with the Colorado Avalanche Information Karl Birkeland, Janet Kellam, Gary Murphy three decades as an avalanche worker. See articles later Center in Boulder as a staff forecaster and taught Section Representatives this issue for details. The San Juans Public Lands Center education classes throughout the State. Alaska….............................Bill Glude has hired Denny Hogan as its “Snow Ranger” for the Eastern Section...................Bob Bailey BLM and FS lands in the Silverton area of the San Juans. New Professional Members Spring 2003 European Section.................Peter Höller th Intermountain North.............Fay Johnson His official starting date was January 13 and his duty Intermountain South.............Dave Ream station is in Silverton. David Haake, Bend, OR Northwest...........................Jon Andrews Hogan is the first such ranger in the country to patrol Robert Tierney, Breckenridge, CO Rockies...............................Woody Sherwood BLM land. His duties will be extensive. Primary duties Timothy Haag, Breckenridge, CO Sierra.................................Gary Murphy initially will be to monitor day to day operations at the Will Barrett, Fairplay, CO Member Representative.......Halsted Morris Chad Hults, Skykomish, WA new Silverton Mountain Ski Area and ensure compliance Charles Rubin, Ellensburg, WA Executive Committee denoted by * of BLM permits for avalanche study/mitigation