History

The avalanche research program started at The University of Calgary in 1987. Since then studies have included: 

• properties of persistent and non-persistent weak layers, 
• strength of snow slabs and fracture propagation, 
• refinement and limitations of the rutschblock test, 
• refinement of shear frame stability indices for skier triggering, 
• correlations of shear frame, compression and rutschblock results with skier triggering of persistent slabs, 
• improved probing for avalanche victims, 
• micromechanical model of strength changes of surface hoar, 
• skier triggering, including trigering from isolated weaknesses, 
• spatial variability of snow stability, 
• fracture in weak snowpack layers. 

Field studies have been conducted at:

• Lake Louise and Kananaskis Country, 1987-89 
• Cariboos and Monashees near Blue River, BC, 1989-present 
• Banff National Park, 1988-present 
• Kootenay Pass, 1992-94 
• Jasper National Park, 1992-95 
• Yoho National Park, 1992-95 
• Bobby Burns Lodge, Purcell Mountains, 1992-1998 
• Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park, 1992-present 

Since the winter of 1989, field work has been carried out in cooperation with helicopter and snowcat skiing operators.