The Avalanche Journal Blog
Find articles from past issues of The Avalanche Journal, and news from the Canadian avalanche industry and beyond.
ISSW Young Snow Professional Awards Announced
The ISSW Young Snow Professionals Awards were announced, and they include two members of the Canadian avalanche community. Seth Hewie, a CAA Avalanche Practitioner, and Jacopo Borsotti, a PhD student at Simon Fraser University’s Avalanche Research Program, are among the five award recipients. They are joined by Patrick Jenewein of Austria, Leonie Kommerell of Norway, and Itai Sheleg from the
Honorary Member: Bruce Jamieson
Exemplifying Research, Problem-solving, and Professional Service By Alex Cooper and Nora Hughes DR. BRUCE JAMIESON REQUIRES LITTLE INTRODUCTION to CAA members. The founder of Applied Snow & Avalanche Research, University of Calgary (ASARC), Bruce’s work has shaped avalanche science, education, and practice in Canada and internationally. A long-time member of the CAA, Bruce has been an Avalanche Professional since 1984
Rivers in the Sky
By Matt Macdonald, Previous Warning Preparedness Meteorologist with the Meteorological Service of Canada, now Lead Fire WeatherForecaster with BC Wild re Service,and Paul Harwood, District Avalanche Supervisor for the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s North Cascades Program This article was originally published in The Avalanche Journal, Vol. 126, Spring 2021 SOME OF THE BIGGEST SNOWFALLS in western Canada occur when
Automated ATES Risk Communication in K-Country
By Mike Koppang Note: This article was originally published in The Avalanche Journal, Vol. 138, Summer 2025 A GOAL OF THE FORECASTING PROGRAM in Kananaskis has been trying to find different ways to innovate our risk management communication to the public in terms of avalanche danger and terrain management. The avalanche forecast has always been the foundation of this communication
Photo Gallery: 2026 Spring Conference
A collection of photos from the 2026 Canadian Avalanche Association Spring Conference.
Pattern Recognition in Meteograms
By Uwe Gramann This article originally appeared in The Avalanche Journal, Vol. 125, Winter 2020-21 METEOGRAMS, THE DISPLAY OF MULTIPLE weather parameters along a time series, have recently become a very useful decision-making tool for weather-related decisions in avalanche operations. Meteograms are traditionally evaluated based on absolute numbers, but these numbers alone are unable to unlock additional information that is
Automated ATES Mapping
When Snowpack is the Question, Terrain is the Answer By John Sykes This article initially appeared in The Avalanche Journal, Volume 138, Summer 2025 AVALANCHE EDUCATION OFTEN presents terrain as a static factor that is used to manage safety margins during periods of unstable weather and snowpack conditions. While true, this characterization of terrain does not mean assessing avalanche terrain
Comparing Extended Column Test Results to Signs of Instability in the Surrounding Slopes
An analysis of extended column test results compared to snow stability observations.