Evelyn
Lees knows snow. As an avalanche forecaster, she knows how
to predict when snow is likely to slide. And she tries to
communicate this danger to backcountry recreationists.
"When it’s dangerous, we’re
telling people where not to go," Evelyn says.
"But we also try to tell people about safer places
where they can go."
Forecasting avalanches is a matter of life
and death. An avalanche can wreak destruction as it
tumbles downhill, battering and burying anything—or
anyone—in its path. But most avalanche deaths occur
after an avalanche stops moving, when the snow rapidly
compacts and sets like concrete. Victims trapped beneath
the snow have a limited supply of air and can’t dig
themselves out.
Evelyn and her colleagues analyze
conditions on the slopes of Utah’s Wasatch Mountains
backcountry and then publish advisories using an
international avalanche danger scale. The terrain they
study is vast and varied. Two or three forecasters rotate
visiting different areas while a fourth works in the
office, issuing advisories. They alternate 2 days in the
field with 2 in the office.
Forecasters change fieldwork areas
regularly to sample a wide variety of conditions across
miles of terrain. Working her way up and down the mountain
allows Evelyn to pinpoint areas of concern. "I focus
on the areas I have the most questions about," she
says.
In each questionable area, Evelyn gauges
the structure and strength of the snow layers. She does
this by digging a snowpit, a hole in the snow about 3 to 5
feet deep and 5 feet wide, and performing one or more
tests on a section of it. For example, she might cut out a
column of snow and apply force to assess how much exertion
is required to make the column fall apart. She also notes
the layer at which it collapses.
The purpose of these tests is to determine
the stability of the snow layers—the snowpack—in that
area. Snowpack instability results from a combination of
factors, such as changing weather that creates weak
supporting layers. A layer of light, powdery snow can’t
support a heavy, wet layer on top of it, for instance, and
new snow usually bonds poorly to ice crusts. Such unstable
snowpack breaking loose on a steep slope is an avalanche
.
It takes about 15 minutes to dig and
examine each snowpit. But how long a field day lasts
depends on how many miles of terrain a forecaster covers,
usually by hiking up and skiing down the mountains.
Downhill ski runs take minutes, but hiking uphill is
slower business. And a field day doesn’t end right after
coming off the slopes: Forecasters still must call or
e-mail the office to leave a detailed message with their
observations.
The avalanche forecaster working in the
office checks those and other messages upon arrival the
next day at 4 a.m. Along with reports from forecasters in
the field, there might be messages from volunteer
observers, ski area personnel, highway control workers,
and others. All of that information, plus a mountain
weather forecast from the National Weather Service, is
written into a detailed avalanche and mountain weather
forecast.
After writing the advisories and adding
graphics, the forecaster uploads those advisories to the
avalanche center’s Web site and then records them on
four different hotlines, customized with local details—all
by 7:30 a.m. In the next half hour, he or she does up to
three live radio spots. The rest of the day, the
forecaster updates other avalanche lists, photos, snow
profiles, and media products. An office day usually winds
up around 1 p.m.
Issuing advisories is only part of what
forecasters do. There are 16 avalanche centers in the
United States, all of which publish advisories. And most
of them offer additional resources to increase avalanche
awareness and safety. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
Forest Service National Avalanche Center in Ketchum,
Idaho, which coordinates the centers, doesn’t issue
advisories but provides an online tutorial, an interactive
test, and an educational video.
The Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center
in Salt Lake City, where Evelyn works, focuses heavily on
outreach. In addition to providing daily advisories, the
center’s staff members also make avalanche-awareness
presentations to community groups at no charge, including
a "Know Before You Go" DVD. On its Web site, the
center has still more information, such as an encyclopedia
of terminology, answers to frequently asked questions, and
an online tutorial.
All of this information is aimed at
preventing accidents. "If you don’t know why
avalanches occur or where to find information," says
Evelyn, "you won’t know how to avoid dangerous
situations."
And when it comes to snow safety, Evelyn
and her colleagues practice what they teach. Before
setting out on field days, they listen to weather reports,
check advisories for the latest information, and
communicate with each other. They always carry avalanche
safety equipment, including shovels, probes, and
electronic beacons for locating people trapped under snow.
And they travel with a touring partner, usually an unpaid
volunteer who is equally passionate about keeping people
safe in the backcountry.
Although there are no formal training
requirements for entering the occupation, most forecasters
have a bachelor’s or higher degree in a science field;
Evelyn has degrees in geology and soils. Math and computer
skills are increasingly important for analyzing data.
Forecasters also need strong written, oral, and
interpersonal communication skills to write advisories,
make presentations, and deal with the public. And to work
40- to 60-hour weeks, including spending field days in the
mountains in cold weather, they must be in excellent
physical condition and have backcountry travel and
avalanche skills.
Most forecasters don’t consider their
work dangerous, largely because of their preparation: They
recognize risks—and steer clear of them. Nevertheless,
Evelyn says, "We have a saying: ‘Avalanche experts
don’t exist.’ People make mistakes, but following
procedures can help you stay safe."
According to Doug Abromeit, director of
the Forest Service National Avalanche Center, there are
about 170 full- and part-time avalanche forecasters in the
United States. These forecasters are concentrated
primarily in western States and Alaska, with most working
in ski areas. Others, like Evelyn, work as backcountry
forecasters; still others are highway forecasters.
Avalanche forecasters who work for the
Forest Service earned about $2,600 to $5,160 per month in
2006. Earnings varied for forecasters employed by States
or private businesses. No matter where they are employed,
though, forecasters work only from about October through
April each year. So, most find other work during warmer
months. Evelyn, who has been a Forest Service forecaster
for 15 years, works as a mountain guide in Grand Teton
National Park during the summer.
Most forecasters, says Evelyn, are drawn
to the outdoors and the challenges of their work. "I
like being outside and traveling to beautiful areas,"
she says. "And I like being a detective. I find it
really interesting to see what’s going on with the
snow."
But best for Evelyn is the feeling that
she’s achieved her goal. "When I’m in the office
and it’s 8:15 and I like my forecast, I’ll think, ‘I
did a good job. I think I’ll reach people.’ It’s
very satisfying."
Photo courtesy of Evelyn Lees
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