Best Avalanche Forecasting Podcasts (2025)

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BONUS: Kelvyn James on “Walking Out of the Dark” 45:21

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3M ago45:21

45:21

“Mountaineering, climbing - whatever name you want to give it - is probably the most honest thing there is” > Find galleries, blog posts and many more episodes at www.mountainairpodcast.uk Sometimes… there’s room for one more episode. Even though Mountain Air is currently on a summer break between the end of series 3 and the eventual arrival of ser…

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An Oral History of the Friends Who Keep the UAC Humming 1:32:04

5M ago1:32:04

1:32:04

The Utah Avalanche Center is more than just a corps of extraordinary forecasters. Since 1990, a group of dedicated, visionary, and hard-working people has helped the UAC expand its range and helped push it to the forefront of the industry. This episode, we're joined by all five men and women who have helmed the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center …

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3#10 Damian Hall: Ultrarunner 1:06:45

7M ago1:06:45

1:06:45

“I can see now that I loved the training as much as the event: it was having a mission, some discipline and routine, pushing myself a little more…” > Find galleries, blog posts and many more episodes at www.mountainairpodcast.uk Episode 3|10 is all about Damian Hall: almost certainly the most self-effacing man ever to finish fifth at the Ultra Tour…

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Brett Kobernick Knows It in His Bones: Nobody is Immune from Getting Killed in an Avalanche 38:22

7M ago38:22

38:22

Brett Kobernick’s nickname may be “Kowboy,” but he’s actually something of a Leonardo da Vinci of the snow. A garage tinkerer who builds the tools he needs to better understand winter conditions, he’s also an early adopter of the snow bike, and he helped invent the split-board. True story. Kowboy joins us to talk about all of that, as well as the s…

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Dave Garcia on Having and Having Not Loads of Info 33:42

8M ago33:42

33:42

If you were looking to move somewhere because you love to ski, Moab, Utah likely wouldn’t be anywhere near the top of that list. Dave Garcia loves to ski. It’s why he came to Utah in 2002. He spent 12 seasons skiing the Wasatch, then he moved to Moab, and not for the snow. But the thing is, there’s actually some pretty good skiing in the mountains …

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3#09 Becky Coles of Project Alpine Spirit 50:19

10M ago50:19

50:19

> Find galleries, blog posts and many more episodes at www.mountainairpodcast.uk “I love getting out there and stripping everything away so that life becomes very simple.” In the latest episode of Mountain Air we meet Becky Coles, a Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor and expedition leader whose travels have spanned all seven continents. …

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3#08 Claire Maxted: the Wild Ginger Runner 1:02:07

1y ago1:02:07

1:02:07

> Find galleries, blog posts and many more episodes at www.mountainairpodcast.uk “I want to help people and I want to be useful, and that’s the main reason for doing it all” Episode 3#08 meets Claire Maxted, who was forced to run at school. She hated it. Yet, just a couple of decades later the recently appointed BMC Summit editor can count Trail Ru…

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BONUS: Shane Ohly on his continuous, 380km run along the “Dragon’s Back” 34:38

1y ago34:38

34:38

Visit: https://mountainairpodcast.uk/ Bonus episodes don’t come more exciting than this. To accompany a written interview on UKHillwalking, here’s the audio of my conversation with Shane Ohly following his stunning continuous completion of the Dragon’s Back Race route from 15-19 August 2024. Thanks to Steve Ashworth for use of the accompanying pict…

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3#07 Maria Granberg: expedition climber, therapist and resident of ‘the pain cave’ 1:11:50

1+ y ago1:11:50

1:11:50

> Find galleries, blog posts and many more episodes at www.mountainairpodcast.uk “My strength is my curiosity, and being pretty good at suffering” Episode 3#07 sits down with mountaineer, therapist and motivational speaker Maria Granberg, whose achievements so far include: climbing Manaslu (8,163m), and becoming only the second Swedish woman to sum…

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Dave Kelly on the Nuances of Public Forecasting 37:07

1+ y ago37:07

37:07

Dave Kelly’s career on snow has included stints forecasting for a remote narrow-gauge, trans-national railroad on behalf of the Alaska DOT. He’s also put in time at Turoa, one of the largest ski areas in New Zealand. And for 16 years, he worked as a ski patroller at Alta. He joined the Utah Avalanche Center in the 2022-23 season as a forecaster for…

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3#06 Patrick Davies: the diplomat who walked the length of Britain 1:02:57

1+ y ago1:02:57

1:02:57

> Find galleries, blog posts and many more episodes at www.mountainairpodcast.uk “Once you slow down you see it all” Interview recorded 24/01/24 On the latest episode of Mountain Air, Dan catches up with Patrick Davies, a writer, long-distance walker and charity fundraiser whose latest book “Where Skylarks Sing” recounts a 2250km walk across the UK…

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Craig Gordon and the Zen of Solo Touring 41:19

1+ y ago41:19

41:19

More often than not, UAC forecaster Craig Gordon heads into the backcountry alone. He loves it. the solitude. Moving at his own pace. Spending as much time as he wants, as much time as it takes to understand the snowpack. He also understands the risks involved in touring alone. Craig joins us to talk through two of his most memorable solo backcount…

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Episode #191 - LIFE TOOLS ADVENTURE OUTFITTERS | The Origins of Midwest Telefest 1:13:59

1+ y ago1:13:59

1:13:59

On this week's podcast I sit down for a conversation with the founding members of Midwest Telefest that included the owners, employees, and friends of Life Tools Adventure Outfitters. The Co-op turned outdoor shop was a hub for Telemark equipment in the Green Bay, WI area for many years and helped bring awareness to the great Telemark turn. Midwest…

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Toby Weed on Sharing the Joys of Powder Snow 33:16

1+ y ago33:16

33:16

If there's one thing we can all agree on, it's snow. In his 20-plus years as a UAC forecaster for the Logan region, Toby Weed has seen snow's uniting effects. The Logan mountains boast an abundance of terrain, and for years, motorized and non-motorized users battled for the best slopes. But, Weed says, these days, things have changed. He joins us t…

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Paige Pagnucco on Effective Messaging in Culturally Complex Terrain 33:02

1+ y ago33:02

33:02

There isn’t any hard data on this, but it seems safe to say that Paige Pagnucco is one of very few people who are both full-time avalanche forecasters and MBAs. In fact, she may well be a group of one. Pagnucco, who forecasts for the Logan region, says that, while it may not seem like it at first, there’s actually some significant overlap between b…

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Episode #190 - Mike Kaz | Ski Industry Rep, Specialty Retail Shop Buyer, & Artist 1:33:17

1+ y ago1:33:17

1:33:17

Today’s guest has been in the Snowsports industry for nearly 30 years. He has worked in various retail positions along with working as a rep for such brands as Karhu, Dynafit, and more. We had a great discussion about where Telemark has been and where it’s headed, where specialty retail might be going in the future, shifts in manufacturing, and why…

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Episode #189 | Andy Jacobsen - OG Telemark Freeskier, Competitor & Powderwhore 1:27:17

1+ y ago1:27:17

1:27:17

Andy Jacobsen has been a friend of mine for 20+ years and is a Telemark skier that I’ve always respected for his great style, backcountry proficiency, and determined and skillful competition skiing. He was always a top performer in the early Telemark Freeski competitions during the early to mid-2000s and graced the big screen not only in the early …

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#188 - - Drew Nylen | ACMG Apprentice Ski Guide & Canadian Avalanche Forecaster 1:14:18

1+ y ago1:14:18

1:14:18

Drew Nylen lives in northern British Columbia, on the Alaskan border, in a town of 300 people. His interest for Telemark skiing began in his youth when he started working at his local gear shop and was able to get his first freeheel setup. He’s an ACMG apprentice ski guide who will be taking his full ski exam in April. His extensive guiding has tak…

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Eric Trenbeath on the Communal Impact of a Tragic Avalanche 39:50

1+ y ago39:50

39:50

The La Sal Mountains of southeastern Utah erupt out of the surrounding red rock desert. They sport steep slopes and big alpine lines that just beg to be skied. But this is expert terrain, says UAC forecaster Eric Trenbeath. It’s highly avalanche prone, especially in the heart of winter, when the coverage is thin. Trenbeath is based in Moab, and he’…

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#187 - World Telemark Day 2024 16:10

1+ y ago16:10

16:10

World Telemark Day Celebrates 10 Years For Telemark skiers from around the world the 1st Saturday in March is a special day, it’s always World Telemark Day (WTD). This international celebration takes place this 2023-24 winter season on Saturday March 2nd, 2024 and marks one decade since its inception. “As a Telemark skier myself I saw how great the…

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Greg Gagne on Developing a Conservative Mindset and Cultivating Community 50:10

2y ago50:10

50:10

Greg Gagne is a self-described conservative backcountry skier. His greatest satisfaction comes from putting in the work before entering avalanche terrain. He wants to know, as well as he possibly can, that the snow he’s traveling on and around is stable. Greg joins us to explore how we grow our knowledge and experience in avalanche terrain, and we …

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#186 - Giving The Gift of Telemark Skiing to Friends & Family 40:35

2y ago40:35

40:35

The other day I had the opportunity to teach a friend how to Telemark ski for the first time. I absolutely love sharing the turn with my friends but it’s been awhile since I’ve gone out with someone that has never made drop-knee turns before and starting from scratch. It reminded me of of things that I wanted to share with you as we head into this …

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#185 - Top Five Fitness Tips For The Telemark Season with Kate Galliett 44:56

2y ago44:56

44:56

Todays podcast is all about fitness and some of the important ways you can keep you body healthy and strong during the Telemark ski season. Kate Galliett and I discuss five important tips that range from diet and warm-ups to joints and apres-ski. Kate Galliett has been a Personal Trainer and Coach for 22 years. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degr…

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Nikki Champion on Forecast Accuracy and Finding Your Way 30:35

2y ago30:35

30:35

UAC forecaster Nikki Champion knows first-hand the challenge of charting a career path in snow and avalanche science. She joins us to talk about how having role models and mentors that looked like her helped her find her way. We also talk about her recent ISSW paper evaluating the accuracy of the avalanche center’s forecasts in the last few years.…

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#184 - TOP Telemark FAQs of 2023 36:34

2y ago36:34

36:34

Every year we get so many voicemails, emails, DMs, and the like regarding Telemark skiing. A lot of these questions are the same because there’s generally a lack of information online or people have a hard time finding the answers they need. So today I thought I’d put together my top list of FREQUENTLY ASKED TELEMARK QUESTIONS IN 2023 and see if I …

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#183 - Cody Smith | Lipstick Films (2006-2007) 1:00:56

2y ago1:00:56

1:00:56

This week I talk to me good buddy Cody Smith. Cody grew up near Aspen, Colorado where he started skiing at a young age as well as Telemark skiing. He attended the Colorado Rocky Mountain School and was a part of the school Telemark team. Following high school he filmed with Falling Forward Films, competed, and then eventually started Lipstick Films…

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#182 - Five Fun Telemark Skiing History Facts 26:47

2y ago26:47

26:47

You all know how much I love the history of Telemark skiing and that's one of the big reasons I started the podcast. In Today's episode I talk about 5 fun Telemark history facts that I've always thought were important to the rich history of the turn. This episode is especially good for new Telemark skiers and those that may not know much about the …

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Episode #181 | Three Top Reasons Telemark Skiing Struggles To Grow 52:39

2y ago52:39

52:39

There’s been some things that have gone down lately that really got me thinking about the current state of Telemark and where I think it’s heading in the next few years and beyond. At first these things that happened seemed like incidents that didn’t have much to do with each other, but as I started thinking more and more about them the connections…

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Drew Hardesty on Stories, Storytelling and Safety Communication 28:11

2y ago28:11

28:11

This season, something a little different on the podcast. We want you to get to know the UAC forecasters, so, Drew is handing over the host's mic to producer Benjamin Bombard, and he'll be the one interviewing the crew. Drew's first at bat. He joins us to talk about how relaying valuable information through stories—rather than "just the facts, ma'a…

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Episode #180 | Richard Schürf of Freeheeler.eu 39:52

2y ago39:52

39:52

This week I speak with my good friend Richard Schürf. He grew up in Munich, Germany and was introduced to Telemark skiing through Paul Parker and Yvon Chouinard while he was working for Patagonia in the 1980s. He's had a long career as a distributor for iconic Telemark brands like Karhu as well as many others. These days he runs a successful Telema…

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Episode #179 | Mailbag Episode #14 with Josh Madsen 34:31

2y ago34:31

34:31

This week on the podcast I'm digging into my deep mailbag to answer a few questions from listeners. If you want a question or thought to be considered for a Mailbag Episode, please send in your thoughts, questions, hate mail, etc. to [email protected]. Our weekly e-mail newsletter is a great way to stay in contact with all of our content, ev…

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3#05 Mark Diggins: the avalanche forecaster 1:03:17

2y ago1:03:17

1:03:17

> Find galleries, blog posts and many more episodes at www.mountainairpodcast.uk “It’s about being prepared for what nature throws at us” Interview recorded 27/09/23 Since 2009, Mark Diggins has been the coordinator of the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS). This valuable role means overseeing hazard forecasts for Lochaber, Glen Coe, Cra…

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Episode #178 | Craig Dostie Telemark Skiing in Argentina 43:00

2y ago43:00

43:00

This week Craig and I sit down and catch up about his recent trip to Bariloche, Argentina. We discuss hanging out with Diana Rivera from We Telemark, teaching kids to Telemark in South America, and where are the best spots to go when you visit there. Sign-up for the mailing list: https://bit.ly/FHLMailingList Connect with Josh and the Freeheel Life…

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#177 - Keith Opperman | Midwest Tele Fest 2024 51:14

2y ago51:14

51:14

Today's podcast is with my good friend Keith Opperman. He is the the Midwest Tele Fest Organizer an annual event that will take place on February 9-11th, 2024 at the Porcupine State Park Ski Area in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan. We discuss the upcoming event details, Keith's latest move to make the festival a 501c3 non-profit entity, Telemark s…

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#176 - Welcome Back Freeheel Lifers 36:40

2y ago36:40

36:40

It's time to fire up the podcast again as we head into the 2023-24 Telemark season. Thanks for the wonderful break over the summer! I'm psyched to get back and talk your ears off about what we have going on at Freeheel Life along with a little history, equipment banter, etc. Today I just want to catch you up on some changes this year, re-focusing o…

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3#04 Dougie Baird: the mountain path builder 1:03:17

2y ago1:03:17

1:03:17

> Find galleries, blog posts and many more episodes at www.mountainairpodcast.uk “It sounds a strange thing to say about a 400 million year-old mountain like An Teallach… but it’s fragile” Interview recorded 06/07/23 Dougie Baird has spent his working life building and repairing mountain paths. That makes him the the perfect person to help protect …

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3#03 Jamie Aarons: the fastest Munroist in history 53:02

2y ago53:02

53:02

> Find galleries, blog posts and many more episodes at www.mountainairpodcast.uk “Underpinning it all was this ridiculously amazing team behind me… two years of planning was spent gathering an army of friends and strangers.” Episode 3#03 meets Jamie Aarons, who on 26 June 2023 became the fastest person ever to have completed a self-propelled round …

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3#02 David “Heavy” Whalley: the Search and Rescue legend 1:01:26

2+ y ago1:01:26

1:01:26

> Find galleries, blog posts and many more episodes at www.mountainairpodcast.uk “There’s no greater feeling than finding people alive in the mountains.” Episode 3#02 meets a legendary figure in Search and Rescue circles. A member of RAF Mountain Rescue for 37 years, David “Heavy” Whalley has attended more than a thousand call-outs, and saved the l…

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3#01 Steph McKenna: the award-winning mountain campaigner 49:26

2+ y ago49:26

49:26

> Find galleries, blog posts and many more episodes at www.mountainairpodcast.uk “I get excited about something and I say yes, and then I do it. And I enjoy doing it, so I keep doing it.” Episode 3#01 of Mountain Air stars Steph McKenna, winner of the fabulously titled 2023 Fort William Festival “Scottish Youth Award for Excellence in Mountain Cult…

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Laura McGladrey on the Keys to a Long and Healthy Career in the Mountains 54:00

2+ y ago54:00

54:00

Laura McGladrey, the founder of the groundbreaking non-profit Responders Alliance, works with front-line teams who witness and experience traumatic events—law enforcement, fire, EMS, Search and Rescue. She crafts language and creates tools to help them foster mental well being and resiliency. As Laura told us, you can spend all the time you want in…

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#175 - Paul Flück | Telemark Only Festival 52:53

2+ y ago52:53

52:53

Paul Flück started Telemark skiing back in 1989 and has been involved with everything from retail, to event management, marketing, and more. During the 2014-15 season he came up with a way to rent out the entire ski area of Schilthorn Piz-Gloria and create an on-hill experience called Telemark Only, where only Telemark skiers are allowed on the mou…

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#174 - Jakob Schiller | Journalist & Gear Tester 1:11:07

2+ y ago1:11:07

1:11:07

Jakob Schiller is from New Mexico where he grew up and went to school. As a high schooler, and when the snow was lousy at his local resort, he used to pull out a pair of 210 cm Tua skis mounted with flimsy Voile telemark bindings and then strap on a pair of thrift shop leather telemark boots. This is how he got started in Telemark skiing many years…

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#173 - Mailbag Episode #13 54:01

2+ y ago54:01

54:01

As we start nearing the end of another killer Telemark season I wanted to do a little clean-up in the mail department. Today I'm answering more of your questions regarding Telemark skiing in Mailbag Episode #13. Sign-up for the mailing list: https://bit.ly/FHLMailingList Connect with Josh and the Freeheel Life Family Josh on Instagram, Facebook, an…

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#172 - Craig Dostie | Voile Transit & Telemark Tech for Backcountry Telemark Skiing 47:49

2+ y ago47:49

47:49

Craig Dostie joins me on the podcast after a day in the Utah backcountry to discuss the new Voile Transit Telemark tech binding. Our conversation goes over the new offering from Voile along with other tech-toe NTN Telemark binding offerings like the InWild Meidjo & 22 Designs LYNX. Craig shares some details about the Transit mounting pattern, cable…

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#171 - World Telemark Day 2023 Debrief 37:49

2+ y ago37:49

37:49

World Telemark Day 2023 happened this past Saturday March 4th. On today's podcast I debrief the details of this year's event along with some highlights of some of the great events and things that happened around the world. Sign-up for the mailing list: https://bit.ly/FHLMailingList Connect with Josh and the Freeheel Life Family Josh on Instagram, F…

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#170 - Personal Guide to World Telemark Day 2023 34:47

2+ y ago34:47

34:47

This Saturday, March 4th, is the 9th annual World Telemark Day™. Whether this is your first WTD or you have celebrated every single year, today's podcast is your personal guide to walk you through it and help you have fun! I've also included a list of several of the events that are happening around the world. If one isn't listed near you, please ch…

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#169 - Telemark Ski Demos with Taylor Johnson 55:14

2+ y ago55:14

55:14

Today we talk about the importance of demos and how they can help in your decision making process when buying new equipment. Taylor and I go over important facts about Telemark ski demos/rentals, ettiquette, and why it's a good time of year to hop on something you have always wanted to try. Sign-up for the mailing list: https://bit.ly/FHLMailingLis…

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#168 - Mid-Season Maintenence | Mind, Body, & Gear 49:18

2+ y ago49:18

49:18

It's a good time in the Telemark season to take stock of what you've done, what you wish you did, and what you are still planning to do. In today's episode I'm going through some check points of the mind, body, & gear that I think make for a better Telemark season on the snow. Mind: Take stock of how the season is progressing. Go over the goals tha…

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#167 - Mailbag Episode #12 41:40

2+ y ago41:40

41:40

This week on the podcast I dig into the 'ol mailbag along with a ton of news about upcoming events, WTD gatherings worldwide, and a few thoughts on Telemark community building. Sign-up for the mailing list: https://bit.ly/FHLMailingList Connect with Josh and the Freeheel Life Family Josh on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter Telemark Skier Magazine o…

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Snow Monk Jerry Roberts on a Lifetime in the Mountains 1:01:30

2+ y ago1:01:30

1:01:30

Unlike a lot of snow and avalanche professionals, Jerry Roberts spent a fair amount of time hanging out around San Francisco, soaking up the Buddhist-infused literary scene of the '60s. He developed a deep affection for some very old school snow enthusiasts: Basho, Issa, Buson, and other 18th-century Japanese poets. He went on to a lengthy career f…