Avalanche experts at workshop in Whitefish

Winter recreationists will gather in Whitefish on Nov. 11 for an afternoon of presentations from experts in avalanches and mountain experience at the annual Northern Rockies Snow and Avalanche Workshop.

The event at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center is a fundraiser for avalanche safety, with proceeds supporting forecasting and education. Doors will open at 10 a.m. and the workshop will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Tickets are $35. Tickets and more at flatheadavalanche.org/nrsaw

Following are speakers slated for the workshop.

JASON KONIGSBERG

When do whumpfs correlate with avalanches? Triggering whumpfs is a primary indicator of unstable snowpack conditions. Although backcountry travelers and avalanche forecasters rely on whumpfs as a warning sign of potential avalanches, there is little formal research to confirm this relationship. Jason Konigsberg and collaborators in Colorado studied whumpf and avalanche data to analyze correlations and found instances when avalanche observations increased yet whumpf observations decreased! Jason brought this important research to ISSW and we’re lucky to have him make the trip to Montana to share it with us in November.

Jason is a Senior Forecaster for the Colorado Avalanche Information Center’s Northern Region. Jason joined CAIC in 2015. He made the pilgrimage from the east coast to Steamboat Springs in 1999. Jason joined the ski patrol at Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah in 2005, and became part of the resort’s snow safety team. The need for more winter led Jason to spend summers in New Zealand as the snow safety officer at Craigieburn Valley ski area and the public forecaster for the Craigieburn Range. Now adjusting to life with only one winter per year, Jason spends his summers riding bikes, combing through avalanche and weather data, and avoiding climates where daytime high temperatures exceed 70 degrees.

NATA DE LEEUW

Have you ever argued with someone about the interpretation of wind slab and storm slab? If so, you are not alone! Nata de Leeuw loves a good wind vs. storm slab debate and we can’t wait to hear her thoughts on the topic at NRSAW. Nata will delve into the specifics of how these terms are used in Canada and talk about parallels to the US avalanche industry.

Nata hails from the east side and is very familiar with wind! She began her avalanche career as a ski patroller at Castle Mountain Resort in Alberta. As a grad student at Montana State University (advised by Dr. Jordy Hendrikx), her research focuses on wind slab formation and physical properties, with fieldwork conducted at the Yellowstone Club. Nata presented at ISSW and we are stoked to welcome her to the NRSAW stage.

DEVON O’NEIL

We can't resist a good graph... but how about a story? At NRSAW, journalist Devon O’Neil will discuss the importance of the tales we tell each other (in observations, over a beer, through published works) and why the hard ones are often the most impactful. 

Devon is a correspondent for Outside Magazine and avid ski tourer based in Breckenridge, Colorado. He is currently writing a book for HarperCollins about a mysterious backcountry accident that haunted a small Rocky Mountain town for years. You’ve probably read some of his work—and if you haven’t, you should!

One of our favorites is his essay, “I Reported on Avalanches for 15 Years. Then I Triggered a Huge One.” We think this near miss story is a prime example of how powerful storytelling can be:

“The crowns spanned about half a mile, and we estimated the fracture to be around ten feet deep on either edge of the bowl, leaving bare ground exposed across the basin... I spent the next two days shoveling out my yard and replaying what happened like a GIF.”

CAM JOHNSON

Get your NRSAW ticket to learn more about regional avalanche conditions and trends. We are so excited for “April Fooled in the Flathead,” presented by our very own Cam Johnson! In recent years, the FAC observed a spike in late-season near-misses and accidents, and April now ranks as the month with the second highest tally of incidents in the region (10), behind only February (29; 2017-2023). To understand why, Cam and FAC Director Blase Reardon dug into the weather, snowpack, and human conditions leading to avalanche incidents that occurred in early April 2020 and 2023. At NRSAW, Cam will share key takeaways from their research... so we don’t get fooled again!

Cam began forecasting for the Flathead Avalanche Center in 2019, after migrating north from the central Wasatch Mountains of Utah. Prior to his work with us, Cam spent eight years as a ski patroller including three years as the Avalanche Mitigation Technician for Solitude Mountain Resort. During this time he was an active member with Wasatch Backcountry Rescue. Cam has taught both recreational and professional avalanche courses for the American Avalanche Institute and The Patrol Fund. When Cam isn't working on snow, he enjoys a slower pace of life watching his baby daughter learn to crawl.

LINDSEY ROCHTE

Raise your hand if you’ve ever used slope-angle shading on a digital mapping program.We are so excited to welcome Lindsey Rochte to NRSAW to discuss a framework for mapping that focuses on where a human is at risk in the terrain in contrast to traditional slope shading maps that place emphasis on where an avalanche might start. Exploring applications for Human-Centered Avalanche Susceptibility Mapping (H-CASM), Lindsey’s research group includes terrain traps, connected slopes, and runouts in addition to start zone susceptibility. They also employ gradient shading to reduce the visualization of false certainty.

Lindsey is a PhD student at the University of New Mexico. Her research is focused on Geographic Information Systems (GIS), snow, climate change, and natural hazards. Outside of academia, she works as a ski patroller at Ski Santa Fe and enjoys spending time outside biking, hiking, climbing, and skiing.

CHRISTIANE HINTERMAN-PREW

Have you ever heard of Forest and Nature Therapy? For this year’s “body” session, we’re excited for Christiane Hinterman to give a brief overview of its roots and why we as winter recreationists could benefit from its practices. In her NRSAW presentation, Christiane will explore the sensory experience of being in our bodies while being outside in the winter elements.

We can’t wait to learn more about the positive effects of slowing down, tapping into our bodily wisdom, and using our senses more fully.Christiane’s message will directly connect to our collective and individual health as outdoor athletes and our relationship with the natural world. 

Nature Therapy can help us develop active listening skills, hone our intuition, and maintain a more holistic awareness while in the backcountry. In a world of constant doing and achievement, she will offer you the buffer of simply being. This is a presentation you will want to be present for!

For over two decades, Christiane has been working to connect people with nature as an outdoor educator and interpretive guide. She is currently combining her intimate knowledge of the regional ecosystem, a passion for nature, skills as an educator, and her lifelong pursuit of mindfulness while working as a Certified Nature Therapy Guide. She runs her own business, RootedHeart, offering opportunities to slow down, reset the nervous systems, and connect with nature in a sensory, receptive, and healing way.