The Avalanche Hour Podcast

• Remembering Judson Wright - The Joy of Second Hand Stoke

  In memory of Judson Wright, this is a special re-airing of a Season 6 interview with him. Judson was a father and a husband first, and the founder and lead guide of Kootenay Backcountry Guides.  He was the co-founder of State of the Snowpack, and lead guide of White Grizzly Snowcat Skiing.  He was also the most enthusiastic crossing guard you ever met.  Judson guided with the principle that if you are doing it for yourself then you are no longer guiding.   He loved to share the joy of powder skiing and seeing people light up as they fall in love with it.We’re going to miss you Jud.  Rest in Powder. Summary of the Episode: - Wisdom shared from years of guiding and moving through the mountains- Philosophies on good guiding and instruction - At the end of the day, it’s just skiing.  We all need to come home to our families.  The Judson Wright Legacy Fund was established by Judson’s wife Kelly. This fund will support initiatives that reflect Judson’s values, including backcountry awareness and education. Find the fund here: https://ospreycommunityfoundation.ca/funds/judson-wright-legacy-fund/Resiliency Resources for Grief/Loss Listed in the Episode:Canada- Canadian Mountain Community Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) To find out more or get in touch with a Peer Responder: mountaincism.ca, [email protected] or the Dispatch Line (for immediate support): 604-670-2772- Mountain Muskox mountainmuskox.com- Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)British Columbia Broader Regional Mental Health & Community Resources: bc.cmha.ca- Center for Loss and Life TransitionsAn organization dedicated to helping people who are grieving. Books and resources about grief: centerforloss.com- MyGrief.caMyGrief.ca is an online resource to help people move through their grief from the comfort of their own home, at their own pace. It can help you understand your grief and approach some of the most difficult questions that may arise.- Lumara Grief & Bereavement SocietyA BC based organization that runs programs for youth and families navigating grief and loss: lumarasociety.org/about-usUnited States- The American Avalanche Association Resiliency Projecthttps://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/resilience-project- Survivors of Outdoor Adventure Recovery (SOAR)Instagram page @outdooradventuresandrecovery or website soar4life.org- American Alpine Club, Climbers Grief Fundhttps://americanalpineclub.org/grieffund- Redside Foundation, supporting guides in MT, ID, CO, WYhttps://www.redsidefoundation.org/- Brooke Shiny Edwards - Resiliency Coach https://wildworldwanderings.com/coachingThanks to the sponsors of the show.Legacy Sponsors:Darren Johnson Avalanche Education Memorial FundAVSSDrone AmplifiedPartner Sponsors:CIL AvalancheSafebackonX BackcountryMusic: KetsaArtwork: Mike Tea Production: Caleb Merrill, Bob Keating 

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• After the Slide: Life, Loss, and Living in the Mountains

  This panel discussion was part of the Bend Snow & Avalanche Workshop (BendSAW), hosted by the Central Oregon Avalanche Center and originally recorded on November 8th, 2025. The panel brought together Margaret Wheeler, Liz King, Jason Boone and Kevin Grove, moderated by Sara Boilen. Dr. Sara Boilen is a psychologist based in Northwest Montana and a familiar voice from Slabs and Sluffs. In this episode, she shares the BendSAW panel on grief and loss in the mountain community that she facilitated. Having known grief from a young age, Sara has built her professional (and personal) life around the hard conversations most people avoid. As part of this community, she aims to move the needle toward greater honesty about the risks we take, deeper connection with our partners in the mountains, and even laughter amidst the pain.We want to extend a huge thank you to the panelists and everyone who attended BendSAW for bringing and allowing for vulnerability in this great community of ours. About the panelists:- Margaret Wheeler Margaret became the second woman in the US to complete her full AMGA IFMGA guide certification- Liz King is the Avalanche Program Director at the American Avalanche Institute - Jason Boone is a recreational user who took a big risk by getting up on stage- Kevin Grove is an educator, mentor and deeply rooted in the Central Oregon avalanche communityResources: If you struggle with grief, anxiety, depression, or existential pain from your experiences in the mountains, you’re definitely not alone. We know you’re not alone because there are (more than) four organizations entirely dedicated to helping folks just like you feel better. If you want some support, reach out to one of these great organizations, or a coworker, a friend, or someone in your family, and let them know how you’re doing. https://www.mountainmuskox.com/https://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/resilience-project - Episode Sponsor Climbing Grief Fund American Alpine Clubhttps://americanalpineclub.org › grieffundhttps://www.redsidefoundation.org/Thanks to the sponsors of the show.Legacy Sponsors:Darren Johnson Avalanche Education Memorial FundAVSSDrone AmplifiedPartner Sponsors:CIL AvalancheSafebackonX BackcountryEpisode Sponsor:A3 Resilience Project ⁠Propagation Labs⁠Music: KetsaArtwork: Mike Tea Production: Caleb Merrill, Bob Keating

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• Slabs 'n Sluff - November in Review: Building Community

  Episode Highlights:- A wide ranging conversation touching on community, connection, loss, grief and decision making.- Field updates from Snow and Avalanche Workshops from Utah ProSAW, South Central AK SAW and Bend SAW- Highlights from episodes from November and upcoming episodes in December- Current community events- No more AI art! This is a sneak preview of our new Season 10 artwork - stay tuned for an exciting announcement! In the third installment of our monthly Slabs ‘n Sluff series, hosts Sara Boilen and Dom Baker sit down for a dynamic conversation covering the themes of building community through shared experiences, mentorship, decision-making, and loss. They discuss highlights from podcast episodes from November and look ahead to upcoming episodes in December.  The conversation highlights the significance of building connections & supporting one another, especially in light of recent losses in the avalanche community.Hear from voices in our community as they prepare for the upcoming winter season and highlight takeaways from attending fall snow & avalanche workshops. Sara and Dom discuss preseason training for professionals and recreationalists and have a question for you:  What does your preseason training look like?  How do you prepare for a fun and safe season of shredding?  What skills do you brush up on every season before the snow stacks up?  Call our voicemail line at 541-406-0221!Thanks to the sponsors of the show.Legacy Sponsors:Darren Johnson Avalanche Education Memorial FundAVSSDrone AmplifiedPartner Sponsors:CIL AvalancheSafebackonX BackcountryEpisode Sponsor:Safeback Music: KetsaArtwork: Mike Tea Production: Caleb Merrill, Bob Keating 

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• Jake Hutchinson x Rescue Roundup

  Do all heroes really wear capes? No, and the professionals who specialize in avalanche rescue never would - although they often wear red...sans tights - but they deserve a heartfelt thank you. This episode is a special opportunity to hear directly from those who show up when we need them most. We hope to never have to call them, but should listen closely to what they have to share with us. In this episode, Michael Ackerman, Dave Richards, Chrissie Oken, John Reller, and Jeremy Jolley bring you the Season 10 Rescue Roundup.  There’s something for everyone in here - whether you are a seasoned patroller or a recreational skier hoping to never need to be rescued.  Episode Highlights:- New GPS-enabled emerging technology for more powerful transceiver searching capabilities. Flux lines a thing of the past? PRO transceiver tests? - How do you shave seconds or minutes during a rescue? - Train constantly and accurately, but during a rescue, slow down. There are no excuses not to train with your transceiver.- How to get involved with your local Search & Rescue (SAR) group. - Technology advancements in the Search & Rescue field. - Airbag packs. Thanks to the sponsors of the show.Legacy Sponsors:Darren Johnson Avalanche Education Memorial FundAVSSDrone AmplifiedPartner Sponsors:CIL AvalancheSafebackonX BackcountryEpisode Sponsor:Arva Equipment Music: KetsaArtwork: Mike Tea Production: Caleb Merrill, Bob KeatingPhoto: In memory of Jiggs. Avalanche SAR dog for Snowbasin Ski Patrol, Wasatch Backcountry Rescue. Handler - Eric Landreth.

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• Wendy’s Wisdom: A Tribute to Wendy Wagner

  In loving memory of a legend from our community, we dedicate this episode to you, Wendy. From Wendy's family: '“I don’t get tired, I go hard!” Are the words six year old Wendy said to her uncle when on a hike. That was the way Wendy lived her life and achieved her dreams. The rest of us felt so lucky to scramble, climb, pedal, ski, or snow machine behind her, trying to keep up on another Wendy adventure.Wendy was born on October 31, 1973 in Salt Lake City, Utah and she touched the sky on November 6, 2025 in Park City, Utah under a super moon, giving us a fresh dusting of snow on the mountains. Wendy accomplished so much in her life. An incomplete list: 2002 and 2006 Olympic Winter Games athlete in cross country skiing, 4 World Championships participation, 6 National Championship wins, a coach at the University of Utah XC ski team 2006-2008, an intern for the Utah Avalanche Center, a master’s degree in atmospheric science from University of Utah leading to a career in avalanche forecasting, the Director of the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center 2010-2025 and an air resource meteorologist for the US Forest Service deployed to wildfires.But beyond these amazing achievements, the most significant, however, is her sincere and genuine smile, infectious laugh and the positive energy behind it that had such an impact on so many during her life with us. She was the rock that drew the best out of all of us. She was a force of nature that we will all miss. Her spirit will stay alive in all of the hearts she touched. Energy doesn’t die, it transfers."A note from Andrew Schauer at the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center:"[Wendy] shared with us at our last staff meeting just last week, that people had been asking her what’s on her bucket list? She said the only thing she wanted to do was “work at the avalanche center with all of us”. She has built something remarkable, and we are lucky to be able to carry the torch. Wendy set an incredibly high standard for trust and respect among our team and within our community. During her 15 seasons at the avalanche center, she built a solid foundation of partnerships and systems that will benefit our community well into the future. See Andrew's full note here. A few stats about Wendy:- She started at CNFAC during the 2010/11 season- 742 forecasts- First Chugach Avy fx: 02/06/2011- Final Chugach Avy fx: 04/13/2025 (High danger, P1: Storm Slab/ P2: Deep Slab!)- 452 observations- First Chugach Avy Obs: Seattle Creek 11/20/2011- Final Chugach Avy Obs: Seattle Creek 3/15/2025"Thanks to the sponsors of the show.Legacy Sponsors:Darren Johnson Avalanche Education Memorial FundAVSSDrone AmplifiedPartner Sponsors:CIL AvalancheSafebackonX BackcountryEpisode Sponsor:IPA CollectiveMusic: KetsaArtwork: Mike Tea Production: Caleb Merrill, Bob Keating 

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