packraft… Boat control: Why it matters and how to get it 8 May 202328 Aug 2023 There is a frequent debate within the rescue/instruction community about what really matters in swiftwater safety. The conflict is that we can spend a lot of time practicing technical systems…
ice skating… Navigating Pressure Ridges at Skilak Lake 5 Feb 2023 We caught a brief window of skating on Skilak Lake last week. The prominent hazards turned out to be pressure ridges—zones of cracked ice under compression. This post contains: The…
blog… Dead rabbit saves the day! 16 Dec 2022 The wild ice skating season is filled with ephemeral goals—evenings spent monitoring weather forecasts and satellite imagery hoping to catch days on good ice. Days like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlR_Z0iPafc Grewingk Lake…
equipment… River Rescue Knives 5 Jul 20226 Jul 2022 One thing I appreciate as a swiftwater safety instructor is that I get to witness patterns with equipment successes and failures. River knives are a popular topic for discussion! Do…
blog… The American Whitewater Accident Database 24 Sep 202124 Sep 2021 In September of 2021, American Whitewater (AW) updated their accident database to include "packraft" as an available boat type. Why is this exciting? This update allows us an unprecedented tool…
safety Shallow Water Crossings (Wading) 24 Aug 2021 I returned home after a day of swiftwater rescue practice to messages about a hunter whose body was recovered in the Wrangell Mountains (Alaska). Friends had shared the news because…
ice skating… Putting the Shoulder in Shoulder Season 29 Nov 202029 Mar 2023 A recent fall on the ice gave "shoulder season" new meaning for me. This post is about shoulder dislocations and a reduction technique that you can teach yourself. Based on…
