The Avalanche Journal Blog
Find articles from past issues of The Avalanche Journal, and news from the Canadian avalanche industry and beyond.

O’bellX in Fernie: A Taste of the future?
By Tyler Carson, Forecasting Supervisor, Fernie Alpine Resort This article was initially published in The Avalanche Journal, Volume 135, Summer 2024 PRIOR TO THE 2020-21

From the Archives: Avalanche Control in the 21st Century
This article from 2005 looks at the installation of the first Avalanche Guard unit in Canada, in the Laurie slide path just outside Glacier National Park.

The Avalanche Heckler—Part 2
Brendan Martland takes issue with the mis-use of several avalanche terms, including ‘beacon’ and ‘temperature crust.’

First in Canada—35 Mile O’bellx
Steve Brushey and Scott Garvin write about using the first O’Bellx unit of Canada as part of the BC Ministry of Transportation’s Northwest Avalanche Program in the winter of 2019-20.

The Avalanche Heckler – Part 1
Brendan Martland take a somewhat humorous look at some common avalanche terms and how they are often misused. Part 1 in a two-part series.

Interview: Grant Statham on the Conceptual Model of Avalanche Hazard
Grant Statham talks about the development of the Conceptual Model of Avalanche Hazard, its use today, and possible future development.

Snow Hardness Measuring and Analysis Techniques With theBlade Hardness Gauge
Peter Barsevskis looks at the Blade Hardness Gauge and makes recommendations on how it should be used and how it can be compared to the standard hand hardness test.