Talking Mountain Cirque: Perspectives and Lessons after 34 years

Join us in giving a warm welcome to Lynne Wolfe for her first official episode as a host with the Avalanche Hour Podcast as she shares a thoughtful and reflective conversation with Eric Trenbeath and Brad Meiklejohn. 

A lot has changed about the avalanche industry in 34 years, but one thing we will never lose is the presence of uncertainty when we make decisions in avalanche terrain. On February 12th, 1992, ⁠an avalanche occurred in the Talking Mountain Cirque of Upper Gold Basin ⁠in the La Sal Mountains of SE Utah. This accident involved six expert-level backcountry skiers and tragically claimed the lives of four: Mark Yates (contacted UAC Forecaster), Maribel Loveridge, Jeremy Hopkins, and Bill Turk. 

The group reflects on the terrain, snowpack, and heuristic factors that contributed to this incident, expanding these ideas to similar trends they see continuing in our community today and offering these lessons as learning opportunities for us all to bring into the mountains. The biggest takeaway: maintain a sense of wonder and be ready to be surprised by how snow behaves.

About our host and guests: 

Lynne Wolfe is a retired Teton guide, editor of The Avalanche Review, and she teaches a few courses a season for AAI in the Pro program. She lives in Driggs, Idaho, with husband Dan Powers and the Lucky Dog. She can be influenced by offering dark chocolate, thick coffee, or hazy IPA.

Brad Meiklejohn worked at the Utah Avalanche Center from 1983 - 1992. He has been Alaska State Director of The Conservation Fund since 1994.

Eric Trenbeath was born and raised on the Wasatch Front. He lived and worked in Alta, Utah for 10 years starting out as a live-in cook at the Goldminer's Daughter before landing a job on the Alta Ski Patrol. Equal parts desert and mountain lover, he has worked as a UAC forecaster in the La Sal Mountains near Moab for 16 seasons (1999-2003, 2013-present). 

Resources mentioned in the conversation:

⁠The Avalanche Review - 41.3 - Off the Bench (pg. 30)⁠

Thanks to the sponsors of the show.

Legacy Sponsors:

Darren Johnson Avalanche Education Memorial Fund

AVSS

Drone Amplified

Partner Sponsors:

CIL Avalanche

Safeback

onX Backcountry

Music: Ketsa

Artwork: Mike Tea 

Production: Caleb Merrill, Bob Keating