Talking Avalanches with Bruce Tremper: Stories From the Skintrack Episode 1

The Caroline Gleich Show

Welcome to "Stories from the Skintrack", a special four-part podcast series on the show to help you learn about avalanche and mountain safety through the personal experiences of four special guests. We will be talking about close calls and fatalities, tips and tricks on getting into backcountry skiing and splitboarding, climate change, inclusion, mentorship and much more. My first guest is Bruce Tremper, one of the top avalanche experts in the US, author of the well-known book Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain, former director of the UAC for 30 years, and an avid photographer, skier and adventurer. I met Bruce when I was 15 years old, at the site where my half-brother’s body was recovered after his party encountered a glide avalanche during their ascent into Stairs Gulch in Utah’s Big Cottonwood Canyon. On this episode, we talk about how that shaped my desire to learn about avalanche safety, to develop my mountain sense and to always come home to my family and how I plan to honor my half-brother, Martin’s, legacy. Bruce shares his backstory, his why and his tips for people getting into the backcountry. Stories from the Skintrack are brought to you in partnership/collaboration with Backcountry.com. The first item ever sold on Backcountry.com was an avalanche beacon out of a garage in Park City, UT way back in 1996. For over 20 years, Backcountry has been dedicated to gearing up folks for safe & unforgettable experiences on the skintrack. Whether you are thinking about getting into backcountry skiing this year, or just need to make sure you are adequately prepared with the right gear, the Backcountry Gearheads are amazing resources that can help you find exactly what you need. And be sure to also check out your local avalanche forecast center for additional education & information…. gear + knowledge = safety and fun for all! Thanks for listening today & stay tuned for more Stories from the Skintrack. Check out their gear guide: https://www.backcountry.com/sc/winter-gear-guide Special thanks to Avery Sandack for his help with the audio on today’s episode, to my partner Rob Lea for being extra quiet while recording and to Jonah Cuddy for the beautiful intro and outro music. If you liked today’s episode, please rate, review and share it with a friend. Until next time. Thanks to Adam Clark for the photo!