By Kelsy Been
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) is teaming up with the Avalanche Research Program of Simon Fraser University in Canada (SFU) to launch ‘The Snow Pool’. The purpose of The Snow Pool is to have a broad group of people answer questions about how they understand and use avalanche safety information. Snow Pool participants will be invited to share feedback to help improve communication in Colorado, which could help save lives.
Participants will be entered into prize drawings provided by the Friends of CAIC.
“How we share avalanche safety information has evolved dramatically over the years, but that change has been based primarily on expert opinion,” said CAIC Director Ethan Greene. “Feedback from Snow Pool participants will allow us to understand how different kinds of people currently use our information so that we can improve our risk communication methods.”
CAIC is recruiting all types of users — hikers, snowmobilers, skiers, etc. — with all levels of experience. Those interested can learn more and sign up online, here. The initial sign-up takes about ten minutes and is best done from a computer. Individuals who sign up will receive emails from CAIC and SFU to participate in short online user surveys and provide feedback on CAIC forecasts and information.
“We are especially interested in hearing from individuals who are just starting their backcountry adventures or only occasionally go into the backcountry,” said Greene. “This is an opportunity to be part of a community that contributes to the development of improved avalanche communications.”
This project is a collaboration between CAIC, Friends of CAIC, SFU, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
Kelsy Been is Public Information Officer with Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
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