About this episode

The episode discusses the impact of terminology on avalanche hazard communication with experts Grant, Bruce, and Mark.

What do we actually mean when we call something a deep persistent slab ? Does the name help—or does it create confusion? In this episode, Caleb sits down with Grant Statham , Bruce Jamieson , and Mark Staples for a thoughtful discussion sparked by a letter Grant wrote after listening to a previous episode. The conversation explores whether avalanches failing near the ground deserve their own distinct classification, how terminology shapes terrain decisions, and the challenge of communicating complex snowpack problems to both professionals and the public. From heli-ski run lists to avalanche forecasting, this is a conversation about language, uncertainty, and the evolving way we think about avalanche problems. The Nine Avalanche Problems Through the Lens of Crayola Crayons, by Dallas Glass Season 11 Sponsorship and Advertising Opportunities are available. Click here to find out more. Thanks to Angie Lake for Production Support Thanks to Cameron Griffin for Website support Logo Artwork: Mike Tea

People in this episode

Host: Caleb

Guests: Grant Statham, Bruce Jamieson, Mark Staples

Topics covered

• avalanche hazard communication
• terminology in snowpack
• classification of avalanches
• language and uncertainty
• avalanche forecasting
• public communication

Keywords

• avalanche
• hazard communication
• terminology
• snowpack
• classification
• forecasting
• public understanding

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Nine Avalanche Problems Through the Lens of Crayola Crayons

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