Ian McCammon

Ian McCammon, the godfather of human factors in avalanche education, shares his journey from engineering to avalanches. He discusses the tragic loss of a friend that propelled him into studying decision-making in risky conditions. Key topics include his FACETS acronym, highlighting common cognitive errors, and the Personal Disaster Flags (PDFs) for self-assessment. Ian emphasizes the need for reflective practices and developed the ALPTRUTh algorithm to aid in risk evaluation. His insights underline the balance between emotion and analysis in high-stakes environments.

Ian McCammon, a researcher blending physics and avalanche education, and Sara Boilen, a clinical psychologist applying human factors to safety, discuss improving how teams learn from outings. They cover rolling versus after-action debriefs. They explore barriers like fatigue and shame. Practical prompts, peer leadership, and when to write observations are highlighted.