Risk Taking in Extreme Sports | Why Do We Do Things That Could Kill or Injure Us? According to Psychology Today, some researchers define risk-taking as engaging in any activity with an uncertain outcome. It is indisputable that activities such as skiing, climbing, mountain biking, etc., are all somewhat extreme sports that involve an element of risk. These sports are extreme because the outcomes can be pretty dire and inflict severe injury or even death. Within the context of these […] Brains Greg Obernesser | September 30, 2022 6 Comments
Snow Water Equivalent: What Is It and Why Is It So Important? Skiing is a wonderful activity that wouldn’t be possible without snow. To put it simply, snow is very complex. It can do all sorts of things once it has hit the ground: turn into different shapes, gain and lose stability, and more. However, something that comes up a lot when talking about snow before and while it’s falling is snow water equivalent (SWE). Snow […] Brains Clay Malott | February 24, 2021 0 Comments
Understanding and Managing HAPE For the avid mountain enthusiast, honing the management of risk and wellbeing while being exposed to the extremities of upper alpine environments is for some, what draws us to the challenge of such adventures. At higher altitudes, that starting from 1500metres (4900ft) our bodies and more so our lungs begin to operate at a lower oxygen dense environment and the […] Industry News Martin Elliott | February 1, 2021 0 Comments
How to Make a Basic Ski Tour Plan Using CalTopo Making a tour plan is one of the best ways to mitigate risk while traveling in the backcountry – in the winter or summer. CalTopo is a free online software that allows users to map backcountry routes, print maps, and use them on their new GPS app. CalTopo offers a ton of features that make it an ideal software for […] Brains Dominic Gawel | January 15, 2021 0 Comments
Utah Avalanche Center: Uncertainty, Risk, & Decision Making: Before, During, and After COVID-19 The following blog post is by guest author, UAC observer, and Wasatch Backcountry Alliance vice president Tom Diegel. This post is not intended to represent the official opinions of the UAC. Instead, it is to offer a starting point for constructive discussions and thoughts about how to recreate during the current health care crisis. The State of Utah has information […] Backcountry Guest Author | April 11, 2020 1 Comment
HAPE: Mother Nature’s Silent Weapon Why do they do it? Why do so many people risk their lives to summit a mountain peak? Year after year we see countless outdoor enthusiasts tackle the powerful forces of mother nature to conquer high-elevation mountains around the globe. While many are aware of certain risks, such as avalanches and freezing temperatures, the leading cause of death in high […] Industry News Emily Crofton | November 8, 2019 0 Comments
What’s Your Risk of Fire? California Wildfire Hazard and Risk Map About to Get a Huge Upgrade Unfortunately, wherever you live in California, you probably face the threat of wildfire. But the likelihood and danger can vary dramatically depending on exactly where you live, and you can currently assess that risk using a set of maps released in 2007, reports KQED. But over the next year, that’s going to change. Updated draft maps to test are being […] Fire Firebrains | July 19, 2019 0 Comments
STUDY: 30% of All Avalanche Fatalities in Western USA Occurred During an Atmospheric River Research published by Benjamin Hatchet, Susan Burak, Jon Rutz, Nina Oakley, Edward Bair, and Michael Kaplan in the Journal of Hydrometerology suggests a strong link between Atmospheric River (AR) events and avalanche deaths. According to their research, 31% of avalanche fatalities between 1998 and 2014 occurred either during or shortly after an AR event. West Coast skiers got very […] Avalanche Roger Romani | February 17, 2019 0 Comments
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