Tag: human factors

Pt VI: Taming the Greed Dragon

Continued from Taming Your Avalanche Dragon, published 17nov15. Greed Greed is an easy dragon to understand, especially on a powder day when the sun is shining. The statistical fact that more avalanche tragedies happen on sunny days with new snow underpins the concept of greed. The phrase, “There are no friends on a powder day” …

Keep making backcountry turns

Pt. V: Taming the Martyr Dragon

Continued from Taming Your Avalanche Dragon, published 17nov15. Martyrdom Martyrs believe we are the “victims” of a situation and see ourselves as oppressed. As a victim, we feel like we have no choice in a situation; that others are deciding things for us and that we have no other option but to heed the directives …

Keep making backcountry turns

Pt. IV: Taming the Impatience Dragon

Continued from Taming Your Avalanche Dragon, published 17nov15. Impatience Impatience is characterized by needing to have something now and the phrase “Don’t get in the way” depicts how single minded we can be when consumed by this dragon. People with the impatience dragon are stricken with the fear that if things are not happening quickly, …

Keep making backcountry turns

Pt. III: Taming the Self-Deprecation Avy Dragon

  Continued from Taming Your Avalanche Dragon, published 17nov15. Self-Deprecation If self-deprecation is our dragon we do not feel worthy. We suffer from a lack of self-confidence and feel that our contribution is not of value, so we do not speak up and share what we know. If we have this dragon and are paired …

Keep making backcountry turns

Pt. II: Taming the Arrogance Avy Dragon

  Continued from Taming Your Avalanche Dragon, published 17nov15. Arrogance There is a big difference between confidence and arrogance. A confident winter backcountry guide or enthusiast also has an ear to listening to other people’s input. There is a willingness on the part of the confident individual to welcome new information from anyone in the …

Keep making backcountry turns

Review: Buried  by Ken Wylie

  Book signings are not the sort of thing to make headlines much, but the subject of Ken Wylie’s book entitled Buried is about his contribution and assessment of what is arguably the biggest headline in avalanche news in a hundred years, the tragedy on Tumbledown Mountain, January 20th, 2003. Seven people died in one …

Keep making backcountry turns