The snowpack is a record of weather events that take place during the winter. Heavy snows, wind, even long dry spells, help to create unique layers in the snowpack. The order in which these weather events occur determines both the structure and stability of the pack.
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MSA,
Eric Knoff
Carve,
Doug Chabot
Christmas is around the corner and everyone will be scrambling for last minute gifts. How about getting your backcountry partner something that could save his or her life? Skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers all need the same safety equipment. Here are a few ideas to help alleviate Christmas gift stress and backcountry danger with the same present.
MSA,
Eric Knoff
Snowmobiling in mountains is risky business. Once a rider leaves the groomed trail and enters the
uncontrolled and unpredictable backcountry he/she immediately becomes exposed to a variety of hazards. One of the inherent risks of backcountry snowmobiling is the possibility of triggering or being caught in an avalanche.Snowmobile Storm,
Doug Chabot
Avalanches are deadly. They kill more people on public lands than fires, lightning, floods or any other natural event. In the last 10 years 114 snowmobilers have died in avalanches in the United States. Triggering a slide can be terrifying. Getting caught is horrific. Digging out your partner is hell. Assessing snow stability is a difficult skill that’s never mastered. Like every avalanche forecaster I spend most of my days studying snow, yet I still sometimes get it wrong.
Carve,
Doug Chabot
In the summers I decompress and try not to think about avalanches. The problem is that I’m almost too good at it. Even after 12 years of forecasting, each fall my brain is fuzzy and rusty when it comes to snow. It’s an annual predicament that I’ll never get used to, but luckily there’s a simple solution that works every October-- I teach an avalanche course.
MSA,
Eric Knoff
The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center, in conjunction with the Friends of the GNFAC, is dedicated to providing avalanche education to all backcountry users that enjoy the vast outdoor resources of southwest Montana.
Doug Chabot
All of us at the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center--- Mark Staples, Eric Knoff and I, Doug Chabot--- want to thank you for a great year. We are grateful for the community support of the Gallatin National Forest and Friends of the Avalanche Center. This month finishes our 21st year of operation with a record 145 avalanche advisories.
Carve,
Doug Chabot
Imagine standing on top of an open bowl filled with fresh powder and thinking, “I’m going to ski this. I’m wearing a beacon and my buddy is really good at doing searches. I’ll go for it”.
Big Sky Weekly,
Doug Chabot
All winter long at 4 a.m. Eric, Mark or I are in the office, coffee in hand, our minds slowly waking to put together the morning’s avalanche advisory.
The Avalanche Review,
Doug Chabot
The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center (GNFAC) came to life during the winter of 1990/91, 21years ago.