Operational Forms

Giving the team an opportunity to check in and identify who is in the meeting, who will be traveling to the field, and any pertinent information such as medical conditions, gear issues, and contact information.

This can take on a variety of formats, but the goal is to capture relevant weather data (real time and forecast) and indicate how it may impact the avalanche hazard and group movements for the day.

Depending on your geographic location, access to a public avalanche bulletin may vary. A snowpack description is sometimes included to make updates from the previous assessment. A brief narrative summary of the recent activity or nearest neighbor obs is a good starting point to begin hazard assessment. By using the Conceptual Model of Avalanche Hazard, operations are able to speak using clearly defined language and arrive at a conclusion about an avalanche problem(s). This will also help the group agree on the overall hazard rating for each elevation band and establish a confidence rating.

Defining the element at risk and how the group will manage the hazard takes place during a discussion and is a vital piece of the operational form. It is also the most subjective and time-consuming component. Listing a Strategic Mindset and Operational Objectives is the first filter to guide the day's decisions. Terrain selection follows, and the opening and closing of terrain based on operationally specific criteria illustrate a team's understanding of the hazard. Creating a primary and secondary plan that meets operational objectives and consider non-avalanche related hazards and/or operational constraints gives a group options to choose from. Reviewing the Emergency Response Plan is the final step before completing the form.

Provides context of the area visited and the type of terrain observed or engaged by the group.

Can be tabular or narrative, and offers an overview at a glance of the weather encountered during the day.

Based on snowpack observations and tests, a narrative describing the snowpack from top to bottom in plain english. Specific test scores and technical jargon is not as important as capturing the overall layering of the snowpack and addressing spatial variability across terrain.

Observed or initiated avalanche activity should be captured in a narrative format that conveys the overall presence or lack of avalanches in the terrain observed. Coding and classification can be used as necessary.

Rather than re-forecasting, or backcasting your morning assessment, provide general comments and draw conclusions from the area observed. If a problem type could not be observed due to travel restrictions, you can comment accordingly. Additionally, indications of the overall avalanche hazard observed by elevation band, as well as trend are captured here. This information can be utilized in the following morning assessment, and you can decide if an avalanche problem should remain on the list based on quality and quantity of evidence.

Capturing the group’s decision making and documenting divergence from the original plan is a critical part of monitoring and review. Understanding what went well and what can be improved for next time is also critical. Keeping this all in perspective with calling out when the group was most at risk is the final step.This shared learning improves team proficiency and promotes bonding, collegiality, and group cohesion.