HAIC Intro Meeting November 9 th, 2011

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 Fully local organization with a statewide non-profit support group  Mission: ◦ To foster a culture of avalanche awareness and safety in Haines by creating, providing, or importing educational resources for the public.  Objectives: ◦ Create a local data network to share avalanche obs. & conditions ◦ Generate local discussion by producing bulletins, advisories, or forecasts about current avalanche conditions  Fully local organization with a statewide non-profit support group  Mission: ◦ To foster a culture of avalanche awareness and safety in Haines by creating, providing, or importing educational resources for the public.  Objectives: ◦ Create a local data network to share avalanche obs. & conditions ◦ Generate local discussion by producing bulletins, advisories, or forecasts about current avalanche conditions

 Summer/Fall 2010 informal poll  Months of scheming, planning, prep.  Website development, snowpack monitoring  Launch ◦ User INPUT!  Feedback, Updates  3 snowpack zones  Joined AAIC

 The same and more:  Powdercloud ◦ Focused geographical area ◦ Slick user interface  More collaboration with local heli companies  Yukon Avalanche Center is up!  Support from AAIC ◦ Standardization, quality control, forecaster resources, statewide recognition, access to data  Forecasting Intern(s), Studies, Volunteer Observers! ◦ We need your help!

 Walkthrough of website

 Avy Awareness Courses: ◦ High School ◦ Library + Field Component  Movie Nights  Beacon Practice  Snowmachine-Specific Courses?

 EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU! ◦ Check before you go, Make your own observations in the field, REPORT YOUR FINDINGS ONLINE! ◦ Report whatever you want, any level of detail EVERYTHING HELPS  Openings for 1 or 2 official observers ◦ Duties: up to you!  Wx Obs, Dig Pits, on assignment or wherever you want. ◦ Avy Level II preferred, some training provided ◦ BCA safety gear provided!

 Factors: ◦ Class 3: Weather (temp, wind, precip, radiation) ◦ Class 2: Snowpack (layer hardness, depth, crystal type, past avy’s) ◦ Class 1: Instability Factors (Current Avy’s, ski cut tests, compression tests, whumphs) Class 1 Class 3 Class 2

 Clean, smooth snowpit walls  Sharp corners, vertical walls (not leaning)  Important Notes: ◦ Slope Angle ◦ Aspect ◦ Elevation ◦ Critical-layer depth  Record obs in a field book

 Stay safe out there