How To Avoid and Survive an Avalanche

How To Avoid and Survive an Avalanche

Author: Francis Tapon September 30, 2019 Duration: 2:07:07

What would you do if you were caught in an avalanche? How do you minimize your risk when you're traveling in the snowy mountains?


Robert Hahn has studied avalanches and still managed to get caught in one. 


He works for the Northwest Avalanche Center


He shares his personal avalanche survival story.


He also shares tips on how you can avoid repeating his fate.


After 50 mins, we shift away from talking about avalanches and we talk about his harrowing experiences in the Himalayas.


After 70 minutes, we talk about his fascinating time in Africa, which includes two years in the Peace Corps in Uganda, climbing the 3rd tallest peak in Africa, and several cultural insights, including the importance (or lack thereof) of honesty.


I briefly mention my podcast with Sym Blanchard, who talks about how to live a meaningful life.


About Robert Hahn

Robert Hahn is an Avalanche Forecasting Meteorologist who has worked at NWAC since 2017. Robert is responsible for twice-daily mountain weather forecasts for all zones and daily avalanche forecasts for the Olympics, Mt. Hood, Washington Cascades East South, and other zones as needed, while helping to coordinate the avalanche products throughout the region.


Robert believes that quality mountain weather and avalanche products will help backcountry travelers inform their decisions in the mountains, ultimately saving lives. Robert holds a master’s degree in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Washington.


When Robert is not working, you’ll find him backcountry skiing in remote corners of the Cascades or Canada and exploring tropical jungles when the snow melts.


WanderLearn fans get a special chance to win $1000 in travel credits on TourRadar by going here:


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3 Sponsors


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2. The Steelman Family Foundation

Rene Steelman leads the Steelman Family Foundation which helps families with non-ambulatory children to acquire wheelchair-accessible vehicles.


Their mission is to help families with children diagnosed with a permanent disability participate in the community. The Steelman Family Foundation also supports events to benefit cerebral palsy education and activities. They work exclusively with United Access and serve families nationally.


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3. Health Access Sumbawa

One of WanderLearn's top patrons, Kathy Kennedy Enger, asked me to draw attention to Health Access Sumbawa. I am happy to promote this remarkable nonprofit.


In 2014, Jack Kennedy founded the organization to bring malaria control and healthcare to remote, impoverished communities. It started on the remote island of Sumbawa, Indonesia. Since then, it's expanded thanks to generous donations. Visit their website to learn more and to donate: https://healthaccesssumbawa.org


More info

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There's a certain kind of travel that changes you, not just your location. It’s the slow, immersive kind where the journey itself becomes the teacher. In WanderLearn: Travel to Transform Your Mind & Life, Francis Tapon acts as your guide into this world, exploring how leaving familiar ground can fundamentally reshape your perspective. This isn't about quick tips or itineraries; it's about the deeper conversations that happen at the crossroads of culture, society, and personal growth. Each episode delves into how we engage with places and people, often weaving in discussions about the role of modern technology in both enabling and complicating these profound experiences. You'll hear stories and insights that challenge the conventional tourist mindset, pushing toward a more thoughtful, engaged way of moving through the world. Francis draws from a wealth of experience to discuss concepts like vagabonding and deep travel, making the case that the greatest souvenirs aren't trinkets, but transformed thoughts. Tuning into this podcast feels like sitting down with a well-traveled friend who understands that the real destination is often a shift within yourself. It’s for anyone who believes that travel, at its best, is a powerful catalyst for learning and living differently.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 388

WanderLearn: Travel to Transform Your Mind & Life
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