Who We Are SAAC

Who We Are

Our Board of Directors is:

Karl Bausler, Juneau Ski Patrol volunteer, Douglas.
Brian Davies, Eaglecrest Pro Patrol Director, Juneau.
John Erben, Board President, snowboard writer-photographer and painter, Juneau.
Bob Janes, Board Vice-President, retired US Forest Service, interagency Alaska Avalanche Forecast Center in the '70s and '80s, Douglas.
Tom Laurent, retired avalanche worker, Douglas.
George Reifenstein, Juneau Mountain Rescue and CCFR Rope Rescue, Juneau.
Demian Schane, backcountry skier, Juneau, currently in Iceland.
Mark Wilke, Board Secretary-Treasurer, Juneau Snowmobile Club.

Our staff is:

Bill Glude, director and lead forecaster.
Laura Green, second lead forecaster.
Kent Scheler, apprentice forecaster and educational video producer.
Mike Janes, main field assistant, Juneau.
Abbey Norman, administrator.
John Bressette, second field assistant as needed.
Laurie Logsdon, You're the Boss, administrator/advisor on contract.

We contract with Alaska Avalanche Specialists, LLC for their administrative and field staff. This simple no-employee operation maximizes our efficiency in delivering the most service per dollar.

Bill, Kent, Mike, and Abbey, with Laura and John filling in as needed, are our staff for the 2007-08 winter forecast program.

All our fieldwork and recording procedures adhere rigorously to the American Avalanche Association's (AAA) "SWAG" observation guidelines. They are the most current and complete snowpack, weather, and avalanche observations guidelines available, and they are the legal standard for avalanche-related work in the United States. The guidelines were carefully written to be as compatible with international standards as possible while maintaining consistency with the needs and practices in this country.

Bill Glude, director and lead forecaster. Bill is a Professional Member, boardmember, and recognized instructor with the American Avalanche Association.

His 30+ years of professional avalanche experience and 35+ years of serious snow study include backcountry ski and helicopter ski and snowboard guiding, teaching thousands of students in avalanche courses ranging from basic awareness to Level 3, crew, and heliguide training, forecasting, avalanche plan development, and explosive work for the A-J and Kensington Mines, avalanche studies for the proposed Lynn Canal road and other Alaska DOT&PF projects, avalanche forecasting and evaluation for the Alaska Division of Emergency Services and Department of Public Safety, helicopter explosive work for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, avalanche rescue work for the Alaska Department of Public Safety, avalanche studies for the US Forest Service, an avalanche plan for the City and Borough of Juneau, and avalanche plan development, training, and forecasting programs for power plants and tourism and guiding operations.

Bill Glude as a AAA boardmember was part of the group that reviewed and helped edit the final version of the observations guidelines. He is as familiar with their requirements as anyone in the field with the possible exception of the committee members that actually wrote them. He has also been invited by his peers who know his skills firsthand to participate in the instructor pool for the AvPro course that teaches those guidelines.

Mike Janes, principal field assistant.

Mike is a Juneau local who has taken Level 1 and 2 courses and put in many field days helping us on our research projects.

He also completed the Alaska Mountain School's rigorous mountain guide training, has worked on the Kensington Mine project for Alaska Avalanche Specialists, and has been the Teaching Assistant for the UAS avalanche courses taught by our staffer Bill Glude.

John Bressette, second field assistant. John is another Juneau local who has taken Level 1 and 2 courses and heliguide training. He has worked on our research projects like the AK Block study in Valdez, pictured above with the big saw. He is currently working on some joint film projects for the Center and Stellar Technologies, as well as helping with fieldwork, and has worked on the Kensington Mine project for Alaska Avalanche Specialists.

Abbey Norman, right, is our very capable and conscientious administrator, often assisted by her young son Corder and husband Mike Janes, left.

Kent Scheler, our apprentice forecaster and longtime SAAC intern, works as an environmental scientist in Alaska. Based out of Anchorage, Kent provides environmental science services which include: snow and avalanche safety, avalanche education, remote environmental monitoring services (air, water, and soil), environmental site assessment/remediation services, and remote logistics/project management. Kent holds an Environmental Science degree from the University of Alaska Southeast with a minor in mathematics. Kent is a professional member of the American Avalanche Association and is formally trained and certified in avalanche safety, both in the United States and Canada. Kent's professional avalanche background includes snow and avalanche research and publications, avalanche safety education, assistant avalanche forecaster, and remote meteorological monitoring.

Laura Green, our second lead forecaster, worked with us on the urban forecasting program last year whenever we needed an extra hand. Based out of Lyle, Washington (near Hood River, Oregon), Laura has a strong background as a forecaster, professional ski patroller, wilderness Emergency Medical Technician, and backcountry ski guide. She has worked in Colorado, the Northwest, and Alaska.