Decision Making

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H a z a r d	M a n a g e m e n t	a n d	P u b l i c	Wa r n i n g

CONCLUSION Theattraction ofa long,steep run aftera fresh snowfall can be overwhelmingto both recreationaland professional skiers and snowboarders.The anticipation of an exciting descent alltoo often causes terrainrisk and considerations of safety to be trivialized or ignoredcompletely.Likewise, blind dedication to the goal of attaining the summit on a climbing expedition is a powerful incentive in the face of decreasingoddsofsuccess.ItisbelievedthattheATR Scalewill improve backcountry travelers' abilities to assess the comparative risk presented by avalancheterrain.It is alsohopedthatthecorrespondingadvisorieswillbea useful supplement forminimizing uncertainty. TheATRScaleprovidesalogicalmethodologyfor prioritizing the stepsneededto identify variable risk ter- rain.Snow stability scales are intendedto aid in the proc- ess of decision-making during times of snowpack strength uncertainty.Whenusedwith the ATRScale, the combined systems produce a synergy of improved risk analysis and offera more complete system than either offers alone.					Woodmecey, J., and Shick, J., Avalanche Forecasting for Heli- copterSkiingOperations inthe UnitedStates.,Proceedings of the ISSW'94., (pp 527- 531) Elder, K. and Armstrong, B., A quantitative approach for veri- fyingavalanchehazardrating.,AvalancheFo rmation, Movement and Effects, IAHS Publication No. 162 (1987)., (pp 593 - 60 4) Bohnenb lust,H. andTroxler, C., Risk Analysis - Is it a useful toolforthepoliticiansinmakingdecisionsonavalanche safety?,AvalancheFormation,Movement andEffects,IAHS PublicationNo. 162(1987), (pp 653- 664) Armstrong, B. and Williams, K., (1986), The Avalanche Book, FulcrumInc.,Golden,Colorado(231p) LaC hapelle,E.(1985), The ABCof AvalancheSafety,Second Edition, The Mountaineers, Seattle, Washington, (112p) Holler, P., What do Ski Mountaineers Know About Snow Cover and Avalanche Formation?, Proceedings of the ISSW'92., (pp 270 - 27 2) Meiklejohn, B., "Safe Skiing" Backcountry Skiing in Avalanche Terrain.,Proceedings of the ISSW'90., (pp 97- 110)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS^{Birkeland, K., Brown, R., Hansen-Bristow, K., The Spatial Vari-}Many thanks to Dohn Riley of Riley Computer Services in^{ability of Snow Strength on Potential Avalanche Slopes., Pro-}TahoeCity,Californiaforhisinvaluablecommentary.^{ceedings of the ISSW'90., (pp 115}^{- 129)}Thanks,too,to the energetic and inquisitive minds of the^{Kobe, K. and Jenkins, M., Hazard Perception and Preparation}many students of avalanche safety whomI have had the^{by Cross-country Skiers in Utah., Proceedings of the ISSW'9o.,}privilegetolearnfromandtoteach;especially thoseof^{(pp 130}^{- 140)}Sierra CollegeinTruckee,California.Special thanks to^Burr,^{E., North Cascade Helicopter}^{Skiing Risk.,}^ProceedingsDougFesler,RichBailey,and the manyotherswho had^{of the ISSW'88., (pp 87}^{- 90)}the interest and took the time to offer comment and to ask^Tremper,^B.^and^Ream,^D.,^Utah^Avalanche^Forecast^Centerquestions afterthe oral presentation of this paper.^{U ser}^{Surv ey}^and^{Fo rm ats}^{fo r}^Avalanche^{A dvisories.,}Proceedings of the ISSW'88., (pp 241- 250)
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