October 2019 • 51The Project continues to
make progress raising snow-
mobiler awareness and it is
something I hope to continue to
do for many years. It may seem
odd to see a 32-year-old single
mother who is not even an avid
snowmobiler, working to raise
avalanche safety awareness.
However, this work is key to
me. It is something I feel that I
must do, something I feel com-
pelled to continue to do. This is
my calling, my mission because
Adam Andersen was my best
friend, my partner, the father of
my children and my loving hus-
band of eight years.
January 10, 2018, a
Wednesday that may have
been ordinary to most, was
life-altering for me. My life
became the aftermath of an
avalanche; splintered wood
everywhere, debris, dirt dis-
placed, trees pulverized. I
found myself alone, seemingly
abandoned with a newborn
baby girl, a toddler with life-
long disabilities, and a six-year-
old boy asking where daddy
was. I stood alone in the home
Adam and I created together,
the home where we ran his
business, had a dog, wrestled
our boys, celebrated birthdays
and Christmas. In one sweep-
ing wave of solid snow, it was
all wiped away.
My path into widowhood
has been far from easy, but
throughout this harrowing jour-ney I have chosen to channel
my grief into something I hope
will prevent another family from
being hit the way mine was.■ Don’t be scared, be
prepared
The objective of the Adam
Andersen Avalanche Project is
not to scare riders or deter any-one from adventures in the
backcountry. It’s about under-
standing an avalanche forecast,
appreciating Mother Nature,
being vigilant with learning how
to properly use safety gear. The
objective is to bring every rider
home each night to their fami-
lies.
Our next awareness event
and fundraiser is Oct. 19 at
Action Motorsports in Idaho
Falls. It is my hope to see the
project continue to post warn-
ing signs at trailheads through-
out Idaho, encouraging riders
to check the forecast for that
day and check their safety
gear. - Summer AndersenYou can make donations at
adamandersen.org
Follow the group on Facebook
at https://www.facebook.com/
AdamAvalancheProject/
DEDICATION Summer keeps herself
busy posting signs and finding
volunteers to help spread the word!cal applications. We were taught the right
way to use our probes, starting at a mark
and probing in an ever-enlarging clock-
wise circle. We learned how to shovel. Yes,
there is a right way to do it to create the
best chances for success. And we learned
that the first 15 minutes after the event
occurs determine if a buried rider will be
saved or will die on the mountain.
Day two focused on understanding an
avalanche forecast and how to translate
that into a clear plan that can be easily
communicated with your group. This is
where the AIARE guide comes in, as we
learned to plan a trip, conduct departure
checks and record observations through-
out the day, and the value of the debrief at
the end of the ride.
There is so much avalanche data readi-
ly available through area forecasters, but
the key is knowing where to find that
information and how to apply it to your
ride.
Our third day with The Mountain
Riding Lab was a full day on the moun-
tain. As students, we had to apply our
new-found skills to create a trip plan,
check the avalanche forecast, fill out the
Decision-Making Guide, and conduct a
departure check.
A key takeaway was that anyone can
veto a plan for any reason,
and creating the right envi-
ronment within your riding
group is crucial to a suc-
cessful ride.■ (^) Confidence Building
Aaron Holten of Wyoming,
who participated in the
Lab’s course, said “I feel
more confident now that
the decisions I’ll make
going forward will be better
than the ones I might have made in the
past. I would like to practice what I have
learned in this level one course this year
and keep building a more complete picture
with a Level 2 course in the future.”
The AIARE Fieldbook summarizes this
well: “Because the stakes can be so high,
staying safe in the backcountry requires
humility, methodical assessments, unbi-
ased decision making, and a lifelong dedi-
cation to learning about avalanche terrain
and the conditions that cause an unstable
snowpack.”
Will also told me that “nowadays, any-
one can get an amazing machine off the
dealer floor, and with little practice can
get into serious mountain terrain with
just the squeeze of a throttle. You can
never replace the value of
experiential knowledge, but
it needs to be coupled with
formal education.”
Matt added, “There is no
one and done avy class. As
long as we’re riding in the
mountains year after year,
we should be continuing our
education. Whether it’s the
next level of courses,
refreshers, or re-upping, it’s
a constant cycle of learning
and riding and applying.”
Courses offered by AIARE-certified
programs, like the Mountain Riding Lab,
make up a three-part program called
Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain.
This three-part program is intended to be
a part of your personal ongoing education
to safely riding in the backcountry.
After completing a level 1 course, for
example, it is recommended that you
spend at least one season applying what
you have learned and honing your skills
before moving on to a level 2 certification.
To learn more about where you can
take these classes in your area, visit the
AIAIRE website at avtaining.org.
Bob is the president of a Utah snowmobile
club and an avid rider.
THERE IS NO
ONE AND
DONE AVY
CLASS.
YEAR AFTER
YEAR, YOU
SHOULD BE
CONTINUING
YOUR
EDUCATION.