– The Backcountry Ski Site
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Site

  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

ISSW (International Snow Science Workshop) Report

by Christian Skalka September 29, 2008
written by Christian Skalka September 29, 2008

International Snow Science Workshop (ISSW), is billed as “a merging of theory and practice.” The confab is indeed a fascinating mixture of full-on snow science geeks, mountain guides, artillery, tales of heroism and horror, all focused specifically on the study of snow avalanches — cause, prediction, avoidance, and consequences.

Backcountry Skiing

Ready, aim, fire! ISSW 2008...

I attended this year’s ISSW (September 21-26 in Whistler), and enjoyed the conference format with a trade-show-like experience, where between oral and poster presentations you’re able to wander among manufacturers’ booths.

Avalanche backcountry skiing.
Inside the venue

Aside from the cannons and avalanche dogs, one of biggest “crowd-pleaser” was AK Rendezvous Heli-Guide Theo Meiners’ talk on survival strategies for different parts of a flowing avalanche, spiced with harrowing TGR footage. Bottom line: One should “fight like hell” to get to the sides or tail of the flow where forces are weakest, and avoid the head at all costs. “Swimming” is advisable only insofar as it serves this end, while swimming toward the head is suicidal. Bracing on and spinning off the hard bed surface, and log rolling were also suggested as viable strategies.


Most terrifying: If you are stuck on the slab as it goes over the stauchwall, you will apparently encounter a large uphill standing wave that will stuff you under and spit you out — you are to ride this out and resume the struggle.

Colorado backcountry skiing.
Blog author Chris mans his poster and demo.

Speaking of which, a variety of research presented here unequivocally supports Lou’s oft-repeated message that an avalanche ride is a brutally violent experience that will very likely inflict trauma. So in addition to avalanche risk avoidance and rescue skills, winter backcountry travelers should know first aid and be prepared to practice it.

A current hot topic in the avalanche professional community is multiple burials, and how much education and technology should focus on these scenarios.


Helicopter mounted propane canon.

Helicopter mounted propane canon.

Research presented by BCA indicates that an extremely small percentage of avalanche fatalities in Europe and North America have involved complications associated with multiple burial search, whereas extraction is by far the most time-consuming aspect of rescues.

Conclusion: Multiple burial search technique instruction should be left to advanced classes (e.g. guides), whereas recreational instruction should focus on organization, single search, and shoveling technique.

Colorado backcountry skiing.
Wedge Mountain, Whistler backcountry.

Much of what goes on at ISSW is discussion of how professionals should advise and interact with recreationalists. Judging by the message from luminaries such as Bruce Jamieson of U. Calgary, future directions are characterized by greater integration of local and global capabilities in backcountry situations. For example, avalanche danger assessment procedures are being modified to combine regional forecasts with local information (stability tests and skier observations) in a systematic way. And given drastically decreased reaction times of S&R crews due to technology available to recreationalists (e.g., GPS, SPOT, and cellphones), some experts are advocating better cooperation of companions and rescue services, as opposed to stressing companion rescue as the only hope in avalanche rescue situations.


(Guest blogger profile: Christian Skalka and his wife Susan live in Burlington, VT, where he is a Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Vermont. In the winter you’ll often find them at Mad River Glen.”)

Christian Skalka

Christian Skalka and his wife Susan live in Burlington, VT, where he is a Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Vermont. In the winter you’ll often find them at Mad River Glen

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=829215768&ref=ts
0
Email
previous post
Après Ski Shoes
next post
Dynafit FT12 Undressed — Honey, You Look Marvelous

Trip Reports

  • A Small Hut for Big Skiing in the San Juans: Aladdin’s Lamp

    April 23, 2024
  • Revisiting a 2011 Trip Report: Adventure in the Pickets — Thread of Ice Ski Descent

    December 9, 2022

Avalanche Department

  • Ask a Forecaster: Q&A with CAIC’s Andrew McWilliams

    March 10, 2024

Tips & Tricks

  • Transition Efficiencies 101 with Tech Binding Heel Units

    January 6, 2023
  • Visualizing the Backcountry as a Splitboarder: Minimizing the Challenges of Movement by Anticipating Terrain

    December 5, 2022
  • TURBOCHARGE YOUR TRAILHEAD BEACON CHECK

    November 15, 2022

Recent Comments

  • Daniel on Backcountry Ski Boots Buyer’s Guide: The Touring Boots Worth the Money
  • Jim Milstein on Best Touring Packs for Guides and Daytrippers
  • Bergen Tjossem on Much more than a steep ski: Fischer Transalp 92 CTI Long-Term Review
  • Maciej on Much more than a steep ski: Fischer Transalp 92 CTI Long-Term Review


  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Terms of Service
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2025 - All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

Ask a Forecaster: Q&A with CAIC’s...

March 10, 2024

Ask a Forecaster: CAIC’s Dylan Craaybeek

February 13, 2024

AspectAvy Aims to Simplify Backcountry Terrain...

December 4, 2023