During the 2013-14 winter season eight people died in avalanches in Colorado. Annually, the state leads the nation in avalanche deaths, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. Skiers, snowmobilers, snowshoers – avalanches don’t care who you are. They play by their own set of rules. It’s the humans who break them. But that doesn’t have to happen.
So when John Strand saw a need for avalanche awareness in Durango, he went directly to the professionals.
Strand recently organized Friends of the San Juans, a nonprofit that provides free avalanche training.
“When we’re dealing with life or death situations, I think it’s important that everyone stays up on it,” he said.
The average victim is a 31-year-old male, according to the Center, 75 percent of whom have some degree of training.
Many passion-fueled, adventure-starved enthusiasts rush into an exciting world unknowing before they can grasp the delicate, unforgiving nature of the mountains.
There are a number of variables at work: weather, wind, snowpack, slope and, most importantly, human decision-making, to name a few.
Stand wants to give people a chance to get acquainted with what it is they don’t know and to shed light on the secrets of the mountains. He always wants to offer a reminder to never stop learning.
“We wanted to create something unique and different,” Strand said.
Ten years ago, the former National Ski Patroller cofounded Friends of Berthoud Pass near Winter Park. Since then, 10,000 people have funneled through the program.
Strand said in Durango, the support is overwhelming.
“We didn’t have this when we started Friends of Berthoud,” he said.
The format is basic: two separate two-hour lectures and open discussion classes in November and December, followed by a series of workshops as winter sets in, focusing on equipment demonstrations, weather observations, gathering information and other practical topics. In January when there is snow on the ground, study sessions will take students outside to get their hands cold and wet in avalanche terrain, participate in companion rescue scenarios, make good decisions and learn to navigate an avalanche area.
Strand said the goals of Friends of the San Juan are education and safety. It’s not replacement of professional instruction, he said.
“We want to give them some basics, but it’s a continual process, and it’s continual education,” he said. “We call it a lifetime of learning.”
In the winter of 2013, two Durango men died in avalanches – Peter Carver and Joe Philpott. A scholarship has since been created in their name to award avalanche education tuition in hopes that recipients will give to others what they learn, ideally through Friends of the San Juans.
The scholarship and the Friends will be based out of Pine Needle Mountaineering, in Durango. Because the store sells avalanche equipment, store owners Miles Venzara and Jeremy Dakan feel a sense of obligation.
“The industry needs to come together on this,” Venzara said. “We’re selling light-weight gear that gets you out into the danger zone pretty quickly. I think we have an ethical duty to tell people, ‘Hey, before you buy this gear and head out there, be aware. Come join us and hear what these professionals have to say.’”
Other local businesses have joined the effort. Silverton Mountain, Silverton Avalanche School, Carver Brewing Co., Southwest Rescue, Education Adventures and Wolf Creek Avalanche School are all in support.
Aaron Ball with San Juan Mountain Guides in Durango and Ouray teaches avalanche courses and also for the American Institute of Avalanche Research and Education, instructing future AIARE instructors.
Ball said if you’re going to teach avalanche education, you better do it right.
“If it’s done poorly and incorrectly, then you can create more of a safety issue than solving it.”
Andrew Klotz co-owns San Juan Mountain Guides, is an avalanche educator, and guide book author.
“We hope we can bridge the gap between people that have some experience to the people that have no idea what’s going on,” he said. “The idea is to reduce the number of accidents, near misses and catastrophes.”
Ball and Klotz stress that the program is no replacement of certification, but it is a step in the right direction.
“It’s not to say this course isn’t valuable, because it is,” Klotz said. “Our challenge here is to do the best job we can in a really short amount of time.”
Strand said he is moved by the amount of corroboration Friends of the San Juans has received, and he is humbled by the caliber of supporters.
“It’s our duty as a ski community to make sure people know what’s available to them. This isn’t about me. I’m just putting this together,” he said.
bmathis@durangoherald.com
If you go
The Friends of the San Juans Avalanche Awareness class will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday and Dec. 18.
A fundraiser for a scholarship in the names of Joe Philpott and Peter Carver will be held Dec. 3.
All events will be held at Pine Needle Mountaineering, 835 Main Ave.
For statewide, current updates of avalanche conditions visit www.CAIC.com.
