Avalanche Forecasting and Mitigation

2002-2013 Ski Patroller, Eldora Mountain Resort, Eldora, Colorado USA

2008-2013 Assistant Snow Safety Director and Senior Patrol Supervisor, Eldora Mountain Resort, Eldora, Colorado USA

Responsibilities included day-to-day supervision of the ski patrol, including training of the team in explosive mitigation, avalanche terrain management and avalanche rescue.  Eldora was an AIARE course provider, and I worked as an avalanche instructor and course leader, as well as managing the program. 

2013-14 Snow Safety Officer, Gulmarg Gondola, Gulmarg, Kashmir

Responsibilities included managing the ski patrol, consulting in ski area operations, professional development of the patrollers, managing and developing the resort snow safety program, and issuing a daily avalanche bulletin for the surrounding backcountry terrain. 

2012-2013 Avalanche Forecaster, Compañía Minera Pimentón, CEG Mining Inc, Santiago, Chile

Avalanche forecaster and control specialist.  Responsibilities included issuing daily avalanche bulletins and weather forecasts, advising on and participating in explosive mitigation and other risk management measures, improving data collection and display using Google Apps, and providing avalanche and avalanche rescue training to mine staff.

2013-2018 Avalanche Program Director, Compañía Minera Pimentón, CEG Mining Inc, Santiago, Chile

I managed the avalanche forecasting program, the forecast team, and the mitigation teams, in addition to my normal forecaster duties as described above. Program development, including avalauncher targeting improvements and moving the forecasting system from paper records and forecasts to a web-based suite of products, including an observations database, a web page to visualize forecasts and data, and an interactive avalanche atlas using global satellite imagery. 

2014-2025 Avalanche Forecaster, Colorado Avalanche Information Center

Senior Avalanche forecaster US 550, Red Mountain Pass.  Responsibilities include advising the Colorado Department of Transportation on hazard mitigation and avalanche risk management measures, writing avalanche forecasts, and advising on and participating in explosive mitigation. 

2019 ACRI Sur Sur, Wyssen Avalanche Control, Andina Mine, Los Andes, Chile

Avalanche forecaster and control specialist.  Responsibilities included writing daily avalanche bulletins and weather forecasts; training and educating staff; improving data collection and visualization using Google Apps and web-based systems; advising on avalanche risk treatment; advising on and carrying out explosive mitigation; and operating and maintaining Remote Avalanche Control Systems. 

2022-Present Owner/Operator Avalanche Operations Consultants LLC

Providing avalanche consulting services to mining and industry, highway, and ski area operations, including avalanche risk management program reviews/audits, program development and implementation, and continuing education/training for staff in avalanche forecasting, avalanche mitigation, and related risk management measures.

Avalanche Education Experience

2016-present American Avalanche Association Certified Instructor and qualified Professional Level 1 and 2 Instructor

2005-present American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) Recreational Avalanche Course Instructor and Course Leader

Teaching avalanche safety and decision-making to winter recreationalists

2014-present AIARE Professional Level 1 and 2 instructor and Instructor Trainer

Instructing and authoring curriculum for advanced training courses for avalanche professionals

2017-2023 Member AIARE Board of Directors

Provide advice and direction to the board on the development of professional and recreational avalanche courses, curriculum, and operational avalanche risk management

Colorado Mountain College 2018-2023 Special topics instructor for the Avalanche Science Program

Instructor for the associate’s degree program in avalanche science, specifically for avalanche forecasting and operational risk management.

Ski Guiding

2010-2014 Ski guide and avalanche instructor, Alpine World Ascents