Alex Marienthal, II

  Welcome to Awe, Nice!, where we highlight moments of wonder while working outdoors. We're on the radio and we're also on podcast platforms. And you can check us out at here. In this segment, we return to visit with Alex Marienthal, who works in Montana as an avalanche forecaster. Here, Alex shares a near-miss moment. It happened during an intense and extended winter storm which brought more than six feet of heavy, wet snow to the region. It all landed on top of the winter's already developed snowpack. He picks up the account around Cooke City, which is near Yellowstone National Park.  With all the predictability in life these days, I can appreciate how unpredictability lends itself to keen interest and professional fascination. Alex told me that avalanche forecasting lands at what can be a tense intersection of recreationalists, businesses, and, yes, Mother Nature. Sometimes the forecast is dire but nothing happens. Sometimes, as he recounted, the natural phenomenon can be devastating. Last February, despite an avalanche warning ranking of "high", a big group of backcountry skiers near Lake Tahoe, California, headed into the mountains. The weather got worse and ultimately, nine died in an avalanche that was by all accounts considerably smaller than the one Alex described.  Awe, Nice! welcomes interviewees. If you have a moment you experienced while working outside and would like to share it, contact us here.  We welcome your support. You can find a donate button on our about page. Music is by my friend, Forrest Van Tuyl. Keep your eyes, ears, and mind open. Until next time.