Item: VISUALIZATION OF RUN USAGE HISTORY AND OBSERVATIONS AS A DECISION-MAKING AID DURING PERIODS OF PERSISTENT WEAK LAYER AVALANCHE RISK
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Title: VISUALIZATION OF RUN USAGE HISTORY AND OBSERVATIONS AS A DECISION-MAKING AID DURING PERIODS OF PERSISTENT WEAK LAYER AVALANCHE RISK
Proceedings: Proceedings, International Snow Science Workshop, Whistler, BC, Canada, 2026
Authors:
- Tristen Rasmussen [ MtnOps, BC Ski Guides, Whistler, BC, Canada ]
- John Forrest [ Northern Escape Heli-Skiing, Terrace, BC, Canada ]
- Ryan Merrill [ Northern Escape Heli-Skiing, Terrace, BC, Canada ]
Date: 2026-09-28
Abstract: Management of persistent weak layer (PWL) avalanche risk to guests and workers in the Helicopter Skiing Industry is of critical importance. PWL avalanches are large, destructive, and can be remotely triggered, making them very difficult to manage. The risk management process of deciding which terrain to ski during periods of PWL is complex and involves many factors. The outcome of this process is ultimately terrain choice, which has several different levels: generation of a daily run list, specific run selection by lead guides in the field, and how each run is skied. Generation of a run list involves more than an avalanche hazard rating and simple terrain characteristics (Hageli Atkins, ISSW 2016). Knowledge of past terrain usage, avalanche activity history, and relevant snow profiles are all important factors in this decision. Currently this information is available in different sources. Evaluation of this data is very time consuming when generating a run list for an operation with several hundred runs. The goal of this paper is to present a novel map based visual decision aid for run list terrain selection during periods of PWL risk. A new heatmap algorithm for visualization of terrain usage history is proposed, combined with relevant weather, avalanche observations, and snow profiles. This information is consolidated and displayed on a map to enable efficient evaluation of runs to consider or avoid. Resulting in increased efficiency in run list generation and improved operational safety during periods of PWL risk. Background: A heatmap is a method of visualizing complex density or usage intensity data using a visual color scale on a GIS map. Heatmaps are now familiar parts of modern life when we use applications such as traffic maps (Google Maps) or outdoor apps (Strava). This paper will include examples based on data collected at Northern Escape Heli-Skiing during the 2025/26 season using the MtnOps Operational Support System.
Object ID: ISSW2026_O8.7.pdf
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15788/1790098680
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Tristen Rasmussen
Keywords: Avalanche Forecasting, Terrain Usage, Decision Tools.
Page Number(s): 2131 - 2138
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