The Out and Back Podcast presented by Gaia GPS dives deep into conversation with long-distance hikers, record-breaking athletes, international overland travelers, and other inspiring adventurers who have mastered their backcountry craft. In every show, hosts Shanty, Mary, and Abby tap into each backcountry expert’s superpower so you can take their experience and knowledge with you on your next adventure.
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The Out and Back Podcast presented by Gaia GPS dives deep into conversation with long-distance hikers, record-breaking athletes, international overland travelers, and other inspiring adventurers who have mastered their backcountry craft. In every show, hosts Shanty, Mary, and Abby tap into each backcountry expert’s superpower so you can take their experience and knowledge with you on your next adventure.
44. Lessons from a Deadly Avalanche Accident with Forecaster Nikki Champion
Out and Back
52 minutes
3 years ago
44. Lessons from a Deadly Avalanche Accident with Forecaster Nikki Champion
With avalanche danger rated high in the Wasatch Mountains, two separate backcountry ski parties went searching for safer, lower-angle terrain. They headed for Wilson Glade, a relatively mild slope that beckons skiers when conditions seem too dangerous to head into the steeps. The two groups checked the avalanche and weather forecasts, made a conservative travel plan, and carried all the right gear and backcountry experience for a successful trip. But, all precautions aside, they were swept away in a colossal avalanche. Four of eight people died. Avalanche Forecaster Nikki Champion, of the Utah Avalanche Center, walks us through what we can learn from this tragic accident as we head into a new ski season - one that could be shaping up to be just as dangerous as the last.
Out and Back
The Out and Back Podcast presented by Gaia GPS dives deep into conversation with long-distance hikers, record-breaking athletes, international overland travelers, and other inspiring adventurers who have mastered their backcountry craft. In every show, hosts Shanty, Mary, and Abby tap into each backcountry expert’s superpower so you can take their experience and knowledge with you on your next adventure.