Risk Ramble, January 2025

This panel discussion at the Anchorage Museum featured experts addressing outdoor risks. Themes included learning from mistakes, preparing for emergencies, and the importance of effective planning and support. Each speaker emphasized building skills, fostering hazard awareness, and providing emotional support for direct and indirect victims of incidents, promoting long-term safety and well-being.

Mik Dalpes is an avalanche forecaster for the Chugach National Forest in Alaska. Her previous roles included teaching at the Alaska Avalanche School and Outward Bound, ski patrolling at Alyeska, and being a Ranger at Kenai Fjords and Denali National Parks. Mik’s story in this conversation comes from a patrol on Denali, where she foundContinue reading "Mik Dalpes: Leadership & Vulnerability"

In this episode of the Triple Point Training Podcast, Erin Phillips, a helicopter pilot for the Alaska Air National Guard, shares insights from his extensive experience in wilderness risk management and rescue missions. Phillips discusses operational risk mitigation, effective mission planning, and the importance of preparation and training for handling unforeseen conditions in outdoor activities. He emphasizes the value of team input, stress management, and the use of essential equipment such as two-way communication devices and medical kits. Phillips also provides guidance on how recreational adventurers can adapt professional risk management practices to their own outings.

The presentation covers various risk concepts and insights drawn from recent readings and discussions. Key topics include risk frameworks, opportunity, mistakes, uncertainty, tolerance and perception, and aversion vs. savvy. Influential authors include Todd Conklin, Michele Wucker, Nassim Taleb, Adam Grant, Daniel Kahneman, and Gerd Gigerenzer.

Joe Stock, an IFMGA-licensed mountain guide from Anchorage, Alaska, authored "The Avalanche Factor," which won the 2024 National Outdoor Book Award. The book is praised for its innovative approach to avalanche education, urging readers to consider terrain over technical details. Stock also discusses risk management and lifelong mountain activity.

In 2013, I met Jim Harris during a biking and packrafting trip to Mexico. A year later, he faced paralysis from a kiting accident. Jim's recovery journey highlights the importance of self-agency and wilderness skills, which aided him in relearning to walk and navigate life after injury.

A group of paddlers, Sarah, Jack, Rod, and Heidi, embarked on a challenging expedition on the Rio La Venta in Mexico. Despite selecting the river for its Instagram popularity and ease, they faced unexpected high water levels and various risks such as sieves, rocky passages, venomous snakes, and limited communication. The podcast delves into the importance of group dynamics, communication, and decision-making during outdoor adventures, emphasizing the lessons learned from close calls for safety training and the significance of collecting data on near-miss incidents to prevent future accidents.

Charlie Walbridge is a pivotal figure in whitewater safety, overseeing the American Whitewater Accident Database. Leveraging extensive research and experience, he offers invaluable insights into preventing mishaps. With a rich background in paddling, design, education, and conservation, his expertise is widely recognized, culminating in prestigious awards. Charlie Walbridge discusses his extensive experience in whitewater rescue, emphasizing the importance of safety in paddling, sharing stories of near misses, and highlighting the need for continuous learning and preparation for emergencies.

Deb Ajango is a world-class wilderness medicine and risk management educator. Deb's teaching is so effective (as recognized by several national awards) because she combines her extensive experience with brain science—an understanding of how our brains learn, respond, and are best prepared for emergencies. Deb talks about how the brain works, what ideal training looks like, and how best to prepare for emergencies. This recording is from a guest presentation in the Start & End at Home course—wilderness risk management and trip planning.

Will Gadd is a world-class mountain athlete with sponsorships from Red Bull, Arc'teryx, Black Diamond, Scarpa, and others. Will's accomplishments include first descents by kayak and national championships in rock climbing, ice climbing, and paragliding. But what really caught my attention is Will's dedication to safety outreach. Will joined a Start & End at Home session to share his insights regarding risk engagement and decision-making in the outdoors. Will discusses an effort to quantify how dangerous various mountain sports are, as presented in the Chess in the Air blog. Also, Will's TEDx talk about risk is a must-see.