Colorado SAW October 27, 2023 · 8am – 5:30pm MDT at the Breckenridge Riverwalk Center. You can link to event details here.

The 22nd annual Colorado Snow and Avalanche Workshop (CSAW) is Friday, October 27 at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge. CSAW is a professional-level event with content aimed at avalanche industry workers and advanced recreationalists. All are welcome to join for a day of presentations, networking, and displays from our industry partners. See below for the full speaker schedule.

CSAW is a live, in-person event. A recording of the event is also available for purchase. Doors will open at 8 AM. Presentations run from 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM with breaks. Lunch is not included, we encourage you to visit one of the many nearby establishments that Breckenridge offers within walking distance. A social hour presented by the American Avalanche Association (AAA) and Mammut follows the presentations with beer supplied by Fat Tire.

CSAW is a program of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) and 501c3 partner Friends of CAIC. CSAW is presented by sponsors Dynafit and Pomoca.

 

Schedule

Agenda – Friday, October 27th, 2023 – Riverwalk Center, Breckenridge CO

8:00 DOORS OPEN

8:30 Welcome – Ethan Greene, CAIC

8:35 Stability tests: Comparing tests to each other and understanding the uncertainty associated with their results – Karl Birkeland, Friends of CAIC/Birkeland Snow and Avalanche Scientific

9:00 What’s the score: Scoring snowpits for better communication and decision making – Dave Richards, Alta Ski Area

9:25 The relationship between whumpf observations and avalanche activity in Colorado – Jason Konigsberg, CAIC

9:50 – 10:20 BREAK

10:20 Human-Centered Avalanche Susceptibility Mapping (H-CASM): A new perspective on avalanche susceptibility maps – Lindsey Rotche, University of New Mexico

10:45 Meteorological controls on wind slab physical properties – Nata de Leeuw, Montana State University

11:10 2024 Winter Weather Outlook – Lucas Boyer, National Weather Service

11:35 – 1:00 LUNCH

1:00 New insight into dry slab avalanche release, how do we know, and why do we care – Ron Simenhois, CAIC

1:25 When is it a wind slab, and when is it a storm slab? – Nata de Leeuw, Montana State University

1:50 Using tree rings to compare Colorado’s 2019 avalanche cycle to previous large avalanche cycles – Ethan Greene, CAIC

2:15 – 2:45 BREAK

2:45 Introducing a new Simon Fraser University and CAIC Research Project – Ethan Greene, CAIC

2:55 Ski resort RACS: Planning and development of a ski resort RACS installation from A to Z – Dave Richards, Alta Ski Area

3:20 Historic wet slab avalanche in post season at Yellowstone Club – Doug McCabe, Yellowstone Club

3:45 CAIC’s 50th Anniversary – Ethan Greene, CAIC

 

4 – 5:30 SOCIAL HOUR Presented by American Avalanche Association (AAA), Mammut, and Fat Tire