I got an email from Lynne Wolfe recently, informing me about the Professional Avalanche Develoment Seminar this Saturday, Oct 6th, at the National Museum of Wildlife Art. The Seminar is free to American Avalanche Association members and subscribers of The Avalanche Review, otherwise it’s a $20 fee.

If you’re looking to increase your knowledge about avalanches, this looks like a phenomenal event to attend. And when you look at all the topics being covered, as well as some of the instructors (Dale Atkins, Bruce Tremper, Karl Brikeland, etc) you will realize that $20 is a bargain to access the information these guys have stored in their brains! I have tentative plans for this weekend, but I may have to reschedule and attend what looks like a very informative event for those of us that play amongst avalanches. Here is the schedule…check it out!!!

Topic I: WET SNOW AVALANCHES

• 8–8:40 Energy balance at the snow surface–Kelly Elder
• 8:40–9 Wet slabs: Theory and recent research–Erich Peitzsch and Karl Birkeland
• 9–9:20 Relating wet loose snow avalanching to surficial shear strength–Simon Trautman
• 9:20–9:45 Wet snow forecasting for highways and ski areas: A practical perspective–Liam Fitzgerald
• 9:45–10:15 Break
• 10:15–10:45 Backcountry forecasting for large wet avalanche cycle–Bruce Tremper
• 10:45–11:30 Group discussion with all wet snow presenters
• 11:30–12:30 Lunch

Topic II: FRACTURE PROPAGATION TESTS

• 12:30–1 Evaluation and verification of a new test for propagation propensity–Dave Gauthier and Bruce Jamieson
• 1–1:30 The extended column test: Updated results from last season, new recording standards, and the effect of surface warming on test results–Ron Simenhois and Karl Birkeland
• 1:30–2 Group discussion with fracture propagation test presenters
• 2–2:30 Break

Topic III: AVALANCHE SURVIVAL: To swim or not to swim…that is the question!

• 2:30–3 Swimming: The wrong thing to do–Dale Atkins
• 3–3:20 Swimming and Ballooning: The right way to survive–Martin Radwin
• 3:20–4 Group discussion with presenters

Topic IV: DEEP SLABS

• 4–4:30 Deep slab forecasting in Canada–Dave Gauthier and Bruce Jamieson
• 4:30-5 Deep slab forecasting at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort–Bob Comey and Chris McCollister