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In October 1996,the International Snow ScienceWorkshop returned to Banff--twenty years after the 1976Avalanche
Workshop.The workshop attracted over478 people from14countries between October6th and 11th.The theme of
this and previousISSW's wasA Merging of Theory and Practice.The hearty mix ofavalanche practitioners and re-
searchers ensured the exchange of ideas between the various groups that work with avalanches.
Peter Schaerer gave awonderful openingpresentation on Sundayevening:Avalanche Theory and Practice in Canada.
Hisreview of avalanche workin Canada featured examples fromthe early daysofplanning avalanche defences in
Canada to more recent anecdotes fromavalanche courses.
To highlight the 30 posterpresentations, this ISSW featured a half-day postersession on Monday afternoon.Poster
presenters gave three minute introductions in the main theatre followed bya dedicated postersession in the lobby.
During this session,small groups clustered around the various posters to exchange ideas.Formany people, this ses-
sion exemplified the ISSW objectives.
In40oralpresentationsgroupedintosevenhalf-daysessions,speakersmade excellentuseoftheaudio-visual
equipment at the Banff Centre's Eric Harvie Theatre. Each of these half-day sessions of oral presentations was followed
by an open discussion ofideas and practices related to the presentations and to the session topic.
Three-hundredand twenty people attended the banquet. After dinner and some not-so-serious presentations, Cana-
dian climber and writer,JimHaberl, narrated a slide and video presentation froma recent ascent of K2.
On the field trip, thirty-six peopletravelled to Revelstoke. Alan Dennis showedparticipants aroundthe CanadianAva-
lancheCentre's newfacility. Peter Schaerer led a tour of the defencestructures. DaveSkjönsberg andhis staff reviewedthe
avalancheforecasting program and the Royal Canadian Artillery demonstrated the howitzer as it isused foravalanche
control at Rogers Pass. In spite of wet weather, Peter, Daveand the Artillery managedto exceedpeople's expectations.
Many important activities happened outside the Eric Harvie Theatre. In the lobby,overmeals, at the nearby pubs,
and while walking up Tunnel Mountain, people exchangedideas and made contacts that may last a career.
Finally, it is the people who attend ISSW's that make these workshops special. The strong participation showed the
vitality of snow and avalanche work around the world.Ourthanks to all those who attended.
Bruce Jamieson
ISSW 96 Chair
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The papers committee, Colin Johnston, Jürg Schweizer, Adrian Wilson, George Field, Clair Israelson and Chris Stethem,
workedmany hoursbehind thescenes,reviewing theabstracts,corresponding withauthors,organizing the poster
session,collecting the papers and proofreading the final manuscript.René Kadachprovided efficient secretarial sup-
port in spite of fluctuating deadlines.
We are grateful to Tony Daffern and Mike Baumann at Rocky Mountain Books forproducing the workshop booklet
and the proceedings.
The workshop ran smoothly thanks to 60 ISSW volunteers andthe Banff Centre staff coordinated by Linda Chisholm.
Volunteers fromthe Canadian Ski Patrol Systemmet people at the airport and helped them get to Banff;some volun-
teers fromCanmore and Banffran a recreation program; others soldISSW shirts,ushered people inand out of the
theatre, ran the slide projector, chaired the sessions,and ran the field trip.
Thanks to the Cyberspace Snow and AvalancheCentre and the WestwideAvalanche Network for posting workshop
information on the World Wide Web.
Lastly,we are grateful to the BC Helicopterand Snowcat Skiing Operators forbeing the majorsponsorof the work-
shop and to the Canadian Avalanche Association for the seed money to get the whole thing started and fordistributing
these proceedings.
ISSW Organizing Committee
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