Every now and then I would see these thick old books, labeled "ISSW..." tucked away around ski patrol headquarters. Didn't pay much attention to them until I started attending the Colorado Snow and Avalanche Workshops(CSAW) a few years in a row. ISSW is the International Snow Science Workshop that happens biennially around the world. I took the opportunity to attend the 2016 in Breckenridge, CO and 2018 in Innsbruck, Austria.
During the first day at the Breckenridge workshop I felt overwhelmed by the info in the presentations, posters, and the amount of people who attended. The Innsbruck workshop wasn't as intense because I knew what to expect during the presentations but the city and scenery was overwhelmingly impressive and new to me. ISSWs are marathons not sprints, so find your pace and stick with it. Innsbruck meant more than just going to the workshop. Myself and a fellow student, Tara Vessella, shared the opportunity to help present the Colorado Mountain College Avalanche Science Program poster during a session at the workshop. This helped as a mini refresher to kick off the second year of the ASP before getting back to the classrooms in Leadville
Some presentations and postersI can still recall from 2018 ISSW are Predictions Climate Change Effects on Avalanches by North American Practitioners, Stop and Go Decision Making and Action Strategy for the Backcountry, Snow Making and Snow Farming strategies, When and Why do avalanches release?, Comparison of Cross Propagation Saw Test and Extended Column Test, and using Human Factors to Motivate Training.
The summary of the survey poster, Predictions Climate Change Effects on Avalanches by North American Practitioners, says increases in wet and glide avalanches observed and predicted, increases in upper elevation avalanches have been observed and predicted, overall increase in snowpack stability/structure have been observed and are predicted, 80% wetter and warmer storms have been observed and are predicted, a decrease in dry low-mid elevation avalanches, and forest effects might vary with latitude with increases in southern and decreases in northern latitudes.
The next ISSW is at Fernie, BC in 2020. I plan to attend.
Article featuring CMC at ISSW: coloradomtn.edu/avalanche-science-program-earns-international-attention/
Gallery below contains some photos from Innsbruck and ISSW.
During the first day at the Breckenridge workshop I felt overwhelmed by the info in the presentations, posters, and the amount of people who attended. The Innsbruck workshop wasn't as intense because I knew what to expect during the presentations but the city and scenery was overwhelmingly impressive and new to me. ISSWs are marathons not sprints, so find your pace and stick with it. Innsbruck meant more than just going to the workshop. Myself and a fellow student, Tara Vessella, shared the opportunity to help present the Colorado Mountain College Avalanche Science Program poster during a session at the workshop. This helped as a mini refresher to kick off the second year of the ASP before getting back to the classrooms in Leadville
Some presentations and postersI can still recall from 2018 ISSW are Predictions Climate Change Effects on Avalanches by North American Practitioners, Stop and Go Decision Making and Action Strategy for the Backcountry, Snow Making and Snow Farming strategies, When and Why do avalanches release?, Comparison of Cross Propagation Saw Test and Extended Column Test, and using Human Factors to Motivate Training.
The summary of the survey poster, Predictions Climate Change Effects on Avalanches by North American Practitioners, says increases in wet and glide avalanches observed and predicted, increases in upper elevation avalanches have been observed and predicted, overall increase in snowpack stability/structure have been observed and are predicted, 80% wetter and warmer storms have been observed and are predicted, a decrease in dry low-mid elevation avalanches, and forest effects might vary with latitude with increases in southern and decreases in northern latitudes.
The next ISSW is at Fernie, BC in 2020. I plan to attend.
Article featuring CMC at ISSW: coloradomtn.edu/avalanche-science-program-earns-international-attention/
Gallery below contains some photos from Innsbruck and ISSW.