The Vista Lodge Case Study – PM Form & Wrap Up

Filling out a PM form takes practice. The more you practice, the easier it becomes. The PM form is a great way to put your observations down on paper. It allows you to answer the question: did the conditions match the forecast?

Here is what Don and his group wrote down on their PM form. Don will leave you with a few final thoughts, as well.

The Vista Lodge Case Study – A Debrief of Day 5

Did you make some notes about what you learned from this day? Watch the video below to hear what Don and his group discussed.

You have been tracking the snowpack at Vista Lodge for 5 days now. Take the time to download the PM form and fill it out. Do your best to fill it out completely. We have included some cheat sheets to help with the vocabulary.

LIKELIHOOD:

LIKELIHOOD OF TRIGGERING is a combination of the spatial distribution of the avalanche problem and the sensitivity to triggering.

The Vista Lodge Case Study – Discussion of Day 5 Ascent and Descent

Are you curious about what Don and his team decided? Watch the following video to hear what they did.

Would you have made the same decisions? It’s worth taking a few minutes to reflect.

And take the time to answer the post-trip discussion questions regarding this particular day.

Were there any bad decisions made during this day?

Did anything surprise you (or the group) on this day?

What improvements would you make in the future?

The Vista Lodge Case Study – What is the Day 5 Plan for the Day?

What did you decide? Are you venturing into new terrain? Sticking with known areas? Interested in hearing about what Don and his group decided? Watch the video below.

So, now you’re at the base of the slope you had discussed ascending. Using the Current Conditions portion of the checklist, what do you think? Ascend the slope? Head back to the lodge? Go somewhere else? Write down your thoughts, so you can compare them with Don and his group’s decision in the next video.

Is this terrain consistent with your pre-trip plan? Are you where you talked about being?

Any signs of instability? Cracking? Collapsing? Avalanche activity?

How likely is it that your group would trigger an avalanche in this terrain? What would be the consequence of triggering an avalanche in this terrain?

Are you going to proceed?

The Vista Lodge Case Study – A Tour Plan for Day 5

It’s the morning of Day 5 and one group wants to venture down valley. You’re ready to explore some new terrain. Watch the video below to learn what your group is thinking.

Work through the pre-trip plan section of the tour plan. If you want to write down your answers, you can use this worksheet for notes.

Do any current conditions cause you concern?

What avalanche problems are present?

Is the route down valley appropriate for the current conditions? Would you call it open, on standby, or closed?

Do you have any concerns with the plan to venture into new terrain?

The Vista Lodge Case Study – Day 4 Discussion

You and your group have had 3 days of great ski touring. Everyone is excited to check out the bigger terrain along Trundle Ridge today, so you head in that direction in two separate groups. Watch the video to hear about the day.

The Vista Lodge Case Study – Day 3 Discussion

It’s day 3 of the hut trip! Your group splits into 2 teams. One heads out for a peak climbing adventure. One heads out to see if they can venture in to some north facing terrain off of the Trundle Ridge. It’s another beautiful day at the lodge. Watch the video to hear what each group found.