Running head: CORPORATE CULTURE OF THE UTAH AVALANCHE CENTER
Introduction
So you want an avalanche job? An avalanche forecaster analyzes the snow pack for hazardous
avalanche conditions with science-based criteria and creates a danger rating based on the field
work results. These carefully devised danger ratings play a critical role in protecting the public
by reducing the impact of avalanches on recreation, industry, and transportation. As you can
imagine, these jobs are only available in places where there is snow.
This report provides incoming graduates with an overview of the organizational culture of an
establishment within their field of study. It is important to understand the core values and beliefs
of an organization before committing to a life-long career such as an avalanche forecaster. This
report uses the Utah Avalanche Center for a model of what it would be like working as an
avalanche forecast center. Graduates can use this report as useful information to help determine
if forecasting avalanches is the right career for them.
This report includes the following: I) methodology of how information was gathered, II)
discussion of components that make up UAC’s organizational culture, III) conclusion, IV)
recommendations for graduates considering a career in avalanche forecasting.
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Running head: CORPORATE CULTURE OF THE UTAH AVALANCHE CENTER
Methodology
Personal background with avalanche forecasting
This Fall I am enrolling in the Earth System and Water Shed program at Utah State University. I
plan on developing a career working with avalanches while researching water solutions and
water quality. I have been in the avalanche field for many years, here is a brief list of my
avalanche experience: worked on the Alta ski patrol team for over ten years conducting
avalanche control work, accomplished level 1-3 avalanche course work, field observer for the
Utah Avalanche Center every winter for the last 15 years, volunteer for the Wasatch County
Search and Rescue (SARS). A few mentors of mine, which are also friends, work as avalanche
forecasters in Colorado and Washington from whom I’ve learned a great deal from.
Office interview
Mr. Harry Newton gave me the opportunity for an extended office interview which was really
helpful to learn the office aspect to forecasting avalanches. The interview on February 12, 2015,
with Mr. Newton is my primary source for this report. I’m using this organization in my report
because the Utah Avalanche Center is renowned for their outstanding community service and
great reputation in avalanche centers throughout North America.
Gathering data from the web
Several PDF articles were gathered for this report using Salt Lake Community College online
library database EBSCOHOST. Exploring the UAC website was helpful to analyze their web
design and review annual reports and pictures that helped understand their culture better.
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Running head: CORPORATE CULTURE OF THE UTAH AVALANCHE CENTER
Discussion of results
A career in forecasting avalanches is not the highest paying job but it is the other benefits that
will make this a dream job for many incoming graduates of technical science. Avalanche
forecasters have a truly unique job. They can find work with avalanche centers, roads or
highways, mines, ski resorts, or national forests (Green 2007). An important aspect to
developing a career forecasting avalanches is the enjoyment for snow and being outdoors. After
taking a deeper look into the culture of an avalanche profession, I would presume most graduates
entering the field are not in it largely for the money but rather for passion of snow science and
making a difference in the community. In this section I would like to discuss four components
that make up the culture of the Utah Avalanche Center: (1) salary/benefits, (2) physical
environment, (3) social aspect, and (4) incentive/rewards.
Salary/benefits: For graduates entertaining the idea of becoming a wealthy avalanche
forecaster, they might want second considerations. A fully qualified avalanche forecaster with a
technical science degree can make around $75,000—$100,000 annually for full time employees.
Full time employees are masked with excellent health benefits and 401K. Forecasters working
part time make $25,000—$40,000 annually but get to enjoy the summer season off or open
another source of income possibility. UAC employees also have a never ending supply of top of
the line winter gear from ski’s to goggles all the way to warm undies (Harry Newton, personal
communication, February 12 2015).
Physical environment:
Outdoor office: Avalanche forecasters can spend up to 75% of their working hours outside on
the snow, sliding around looking at the snow pack. On a daily routine, forecasters at the UAC
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Running head: CORPORATE CULTURE OF THE UTAH AVALANCHE CENTER
are in the mountains before sunrise looking at what happened to the snow since the last forecast.
Forecasters are subject to various kind of winter weather conditions—sometimes not so pleasant
(Green 2007). It is crucial for avalanche forecasters to stay alert and aware while they perform
their job, because at times entering dangerous avalanche terrain is part of the job. A good
portion of the time forecasters perform field work alone. From the 5 years prior to 2012 there
has been 11 work-related fatalities at avalanches centers across the United States (Trautman
2012). A career working with avalanches can be very dangerous and sometimes life threatening.
The forest service supplies each forecaster with deluxe-top-of-the line gear to stay safe and warm
while out in the winter elements. They are also provided with avalanche safety gear and tools
since most of the time they perform their field test in avalanche terrain. After gathering field
data that represents the whole snow pack at different locations and elevations the forecaster head
back to the “other” office to devise a public avalanche bulletin and network with important
transportation and recreation officials (Harry Newton, personal communication, February 12
2015).
Indoor office: The atmosphere at the UAC is professional and very friendly. The office space
looked like an every-day office of cluttered paperwork from high impact operations and every
day bustling but it was fairly-clean and organized. The staff members are able to express
artifacts of their personalities in their office and seemed to have a general overall freedom. Lots
of beautiful winter themed pictures on the office walls provided a peaceful-quiet vibe. Normal
lunch time at the UAC in around seven in the morning. Forecasters rush back to the office after
collecting field data, slam down lunch and usually have challenging office work to keep them
busy for the rest of the shift (Harry Newton, personal communication, February 12 2015).
Meeting some of the staff members was a treat, I found their sense of humor to be top quality at
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Running head: CORPORATE CULTURE OF THE UTAH AVALANCHE CENTER
the UAC. I talked with another UAC forecaster about their favorite perks of the job and his
answer was “Besides working outdoors all of the time, the favorite perk to my job is the
individual freedom of my role” (Correy knight, personal communication, February 12 2015).
Social aspects: How does UAC fit into the community? The UAC has been operating since
the late eighties and every winter businesses and everyday people are using the UAC for their
avalanche expertise. There are many important economic organizations that interact with the
UAC on a daily basis: Utah Department of Transportation officials assessing travel hazards, Alta
ski resort conducting avalanche control work, Kennecott mining operations. Winter backcountry users such as snowmobilers, skiers, and riders use the daily UAC bulletin every time
they head out into the back-country (Harry Newton, personal communication, February 12
2015). Winter sports technology has vastly improved throughout the years which means there is
an increasing number of people entering avalanche terrain every winter. Many of these people
make their back-country decisions based on the professional forecast of an avalanche forecaster
(Furman 2010). It appears that many people in Salt Lake Valley trust the daily UAC avalanche
bulletins to stay aware of the current avalanche conditions.
Utah Avalanche Center is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization and is funded by the Forest
Service and Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center. Friends of UAC provide generous funding
contributions and help organize numerous fundraiser events throughout the year. Here are some
examples of popular public fundraising events that help generate the UAC: Mountain events
such as the annual Wasatch Powder Keg race held at Alta ski resort, annual UAC forecasting
party held at Black Diamond, avalanche workshops every winter, and many others. Some other
big sponsors that help fund the Friends of UAC are, Division of Natural Resources, Salt Lake
County, Vail Resorts, Black Diamond Ltd, Arctic Cat, Kennecott, Polaris and many more proud
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Running head: CORPORATE CULTURE OF THE UTAH AVALANCHE CENTER
sponsors (utahavalanchecenter.org). Any organization or people involved with mountains in the
winter season will get to know the UAC quite well.
Incentives/rewards: One of the huge incentive of forecasting avalanches is, of course, being
outdoors. Furthermore and even better, traveling to various field work sites on skis or whatever
means of travel the forecaster prefers. There is always physical exercise conducting avalanche
field work—sometimes hiking up and sometimes skiing down. All the avalanche forecasters at
UAC like to ski on their off time and in between collecting field samples from site to site (Harry
Newton, personal communication, February 12 2015). This means the forecaster gets exercise
and fresh air before they get into the office and sit in front of a computer screen and compile data
for the rest of the day.
Forecasting avalanches is also a job that you can feel good about giving back to the community
and making a difference by helping educate and keeping people aware of avalanches. This
mission statement by the UAC says it quite well, “Our mission is to keep people on top of the
Greatest Snow on Earth™.” People rely heavily on the UAC for their avalanche expertise.
Conclusion
After an informative interview with Harry Newton of the Utah Avalanche Center and countless
hours of analyzing annual reports, articles, and website information I have come to conclusion
that working as an avalanche forecaster is a dream job for anybody who loves being in the
mountains and wants to make a difference in the community. Every day on the job has different
scenery, different weather, and different challenges. Snow science graduates who prefer
stimulating work of the outdoors and like the challenges of being an avalanche detective than
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Running head: CORPORATE CULTURE OF THE UTAH AVALANCHE CENTER
consider developing a career as an avalanche forecaster. After meeting with most of the UAC’s
staff, I conclude that they are all passionate and happy about their careers as avalanche
forecasters.
Recommendations
Even though there is a demand for avalanche forecasters, these careers are highly sought after.
In North America avalanche centers continue to expand because of the increasing human
interaction with avalanche terrain has rapidly increased throughout the years. More
opportunities for internship programs are becoming available through educational programs
throughout the western U.S. Working as a ski patroller is valuable experience that graduates can
apply to their avalanche resume—so DON’T exclude ski resorts as a valid experience. Apply for
a part time field observer at the UAC by submitting an application through their website. The
more experience graduates have working with avalanches will increase the chances of working
as a forecaster. Keep an eye open for any opportunities for internships or volunteer work.
Thank you for taking the time to read this report. I hope this information can be useful for
considering an avalanche forecasting career or something within the field. If you have any
questions or comments about this report please email me at drewstireman@gmail.com or call me
at 801-455-1269.
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Running head: CORPORATE CULTURE OF THE UTAH AVALANCHE CENTER
Artifacts page:
Figure 1: Avalanche forecaster Nathan Crowley evaluating the snow pack structure for the Colorado Avalanche Center
Good example of the working physical environment of an avalanche forecaster. (Photo credit: Drew Stireman).
Figure 2: Social Aspects- Avalanche Centers generate public donations through fundraiser events similar to this event shown
here on an advertisement that the Utah Avalanche Center puts on every season. (Picture used from utahavalanche.org)
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Running head: CORPORATE CULTURE OF THE UTAH AVALANCHE CENTER
Works Cited
Furman, N., Shooter, W., & Schumann. S. (2010). The Roles of Heuristics, Avalanche Forecast,
and Risk Propensity in the Decision Making of Backcountry Skiers. Leisure Sciences,
32(5), 453-469. Retrieved February 7, 2015 from EBSCOHOST
Green, K. (2007). Your what? An Avalanche Forecaster. Occupational Outlook Quarterly.
Retrieved February 14, 2015 from American Avalanche Association
Trautman, S., & Birkeland, K. (2014). DEVELOPING OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES
REDUCE WORKER RISK AT US AVALANCHE CENTERS. Retrieved February 13,
2015, from EBSCOHOST
utahavalanchecenter.org. (n.d.). Retrieved February 12, 2015, from
http://utahavalanchecenter.org/
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