In this podcast, we sit down with 'BigDon' Sharaf.Don has run the gauntlet of a varied and well-traveled 30-year snow career.He has taught avalanche andmountaineering courses for the past 25 years and been aheli-skiguide andavalanche forecaster in Alaska for the past 15 years. In other words, he's got enough mileage in the mountains to have learned a thing or two, including the profound value of humility when staring into the face of the dragon. In the 1990's, Donwas the NOLS"winter God", running and teaching the organization's winter backcountry and avalanche …

Progression of danger roses for the Salt Lake mountains for 3/9 - 3/15. (Click on the day of the week for the archived forecast for that day.) Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Considerable Considerable Summary - Two significant human-triggered avalanches over the weekend followed by strong warming early in the week. Rain and dense snow late in the week. Friday March 9 - Quiet day with no reported avalanche …

Email #1 I’d like to buy new skis and bindings for the skier who lost his in the Chutes and Ladders slide. Could you put me in touch with him? Email #2 That is incredibly kind and generous. I really appreciate your offer to that skier. It really helps us work on building a community in which we can share stories and report accidents without shame. It’s very powerful and I can’t express how much our entire staff appreciates your offer. I forwarded your email to him. Best, Mark Email #3 Well, you see, I was the one that set the skin track that took …

Thank you to Pete for sharing his thoughts and information about the slide. We sincerely appreciate his openess in sharing this essay from which we can all benefit. The only way we learn as a community is by sharing stories. The only way we learn as individuals is by reflecting on our actions and learning from them. The accident report is available HERE. My Avalanche Story By Peter Ingle On Friday January 26, 2018, I was in an avalanche. I am grateful to have survived. I have been skiing the Utah backcountry for nearly three decades and have always been aware of and …

Progression of danger roses for the Salt Lake mountains for 3/2- 3/8. (Click on the day of the week for the archived forecast for that day.) Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Considerable Considerable HIGH Considerable Considerable Considerable Moderate Summary: Strong winds early in the weekend followed by an impressive storm beginning Saturday evening and lasting into early Monday morning. Snow totals varied widely, with Little Cottonwood Canyon receiving the highest totals. …

In this podcast, we talk with retired UAC forecaster and Jenny Lake climbing ranger Tom Kimbrough.Tom has spent a lifetime in the mountains.When asked what has kept him alive all thistime, his answer,without hesitation:"Luck." We explore ideas about lifetime exposure to risk, what it's like now seeing his son Paul climbing and skiing at such a high level, and what role Buddhism has played in his life as a climber, as a skier, and as a soon-to-be octogenarian.We talk about what has changed over the years in snow science and the role of mentorship in the world of …

Progression of danger roses for the Salt Lake mountains for 2/23- 3/1. (Click on the day of the week for the archived forecast for that day.) Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Moderate Moderate Considerable Considerable Considerable Moderate Moderate Summary: Storms Friday through early Sunday morning, followed by a wind event on Monday that left many exposed upper elevations slopes with hard wind slabs at the surface. Approximate snow/water totals for …