Bend SAW Event Ticket (Nov 8th, 2025)

Gabe has been working as a forecaster for the Central Oregon Avalanche Center since we started writing forecasts in 2020, and he's been a professional observer since 2013. Gabe also work as an IFMGA guide; taking folks skiing and teaching avalanche courses with Three Sisters Backcountry, and then guiding rock climbing during the warmer months for Chockstone Climbing Guides. He lives in Tumalo with his family and enjoys putzing around the garden and reading all the books that he was supposed to read (but never managed to) when he was in school.

Alli Miles is an AMGA ski guide, avalanche forecaster and educator, writer, and mountain enthusiast. During winter, she works for Timberline Mountain Guides, Central Oregon Avalanche Center, and most recently, the American Avalanche Association as the editor of The Avalanche Review. When she’s not on skis, Alli loves trail running with her dogs, Riggins and Firnspiegel, and will probably try to talk you into running up a mountain with her, too.

Travis Morrison is the Research and Technology Program Manager on the nonprofit side of the Utah Avalanche Center. He is responsible for developing and implementing decision support tools that leverage snow-cover modeling and machine learning, as well as accelerating technology transfers from research to applied support tools for avalanche forecasters. Travis received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Utah, where he studied micro-meteorology with the aim of improving our ability to measure, model, and understand our snowpack and new (storm) snow fracture mechanics. For enjoyment, he is an avid backcountry skier and spends his summers fly fishing and exploring the nooks and crannies of Utah on foot with his pup by his side.

Martin joined the SFU Avalanche Research Program to pursue his PhD in the fall of 2024. His research aims to improve the accessibility and operational relevance of snowpack simulations for avalanche forecasting. His work in this area began several years ago with the Tyrolean Avalanche Warning Service in Austria, where he contributed to refining an algorithm that provides forecasters with an objective first guess of the prevailing avalanche problem. This past winter, he also joined the Vancouver Island field team, further connecting his research with on-the-ground forecasting efforts.

Liz currently works as the Avalanche Program Director of the American Avalanche Institute and Colorado Mountain School. She began in the winter industry as a ski patroller after graduating from the University of Montana in 2008. Over the last 15 years Liz has worked dozens of winter expeditions for NOLS, guided for Yostmark Backcountry Tours, taught Rec and Pro courses for the American Avalanche Institute, and forecasted with the Bridger Teton Avalanche Center. For several years she held the role of Preventative Search & Rescue Manager at the Teton County Search & Rescue Foundation, spearheading the Wyoming Snow & Avalanche Workshops and overseeing the Backcountry Zero community outreach initiative – a Jackson Hole community vision to reduce fatalities in the Tetons. In addition to her work with AAI and staying active in the guiding community, Lizcurrently serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors at the American Avalanche Association. She lives in Victor, ID with her husband, shaggy dogs, and horses.

Eeva Latosuo is a PhD candidate at Simon Fraser University researching how uncertainty is communicated in public avalanche forecasts. She is based in Anchorage, Alaska, where she teaches at Alaska Pacific University, instructs advanced avalanche courses, and volunteers in search and rescue. Passionate about mountain safety and education, she feels fortunate to live and work in the mountains she studies.

Sara Boilen is a psychologist, writer, and mountain enthusiast who thinks a lot about how people make decisions - especially in risky places like the backcountry. She, along with Ian McCammon, is conducting a research project focused on understanding the real needs and experiences of recreational backcountry users. Sara has written for The Avalanche Review, published in peer-reviewed journals, and brings a psychological lens to topics like risk, communication, and group dynamics. When she’s not working on avalanche-related projects, she runs a mental health practice and a nonprofit in rural Montana and can be found in the mountains of Glacier National Park.

Kelly Robbins was born and raised in a small logging town in Western Oregon. He received a B.S. in Environmental Studies and Economics while playing varsity soccer at a small college in the Midwest (Go Mac!). Following college, Kelly moved to Salt Lake City, UT where he worked year-round as a splitboard guide and outdoor educator for 20 years. While in Salt Lake City, Kelly also completed a Master’s degree in Outdoor Education from the University of Utah.

In 2019, Kelly relocated to Bend, OR, where he continues to work in the avalanche education field, teaching courses around the West. Kelly completed a Level 3 avalanche course with AAI in 2010, and another Level 3 course with AIARE in 2017. He has been a Professional Member of the American Avalanche Association since 2009, and was elected to serve on the A3 Board of Directors in 2024.

Most importantly, however, the true pleasure in his life is snowboarding with his son Zander, who will definitely be a better rider than him this season.

Dave Hill is a Professor at Oregon State University who studies snow distribution and evolution in mountain environments and how snowpack responds to changing climate drivers. He is an affiliate member of the American Avalanche Association, a National Geographic Explorer, a member of the Science Alliance of Protect our Winters and a member of the mountain rescue community in Oregon. He teaches avalanche education classes at OSU and is a cooperative observer of snowpack for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. If it’s white and cold, it has his attention…

Margaret Wheeler is a ski, rock climbing, and alpine guide who has led trips throughout Europe and North America. Margaret learned to ski and climb at an early age in New England, and became interested in ski mountaineering while living in Europe for several seasons. In the development of her ski mountaineering career, Margaret has been a member of several women's expeditions pioneering first ski descents in India and the Altai mountains of Mongolia. In 2006, Margaret became the second woman in the US to complete her full AMGA IFMGA guide certification. Since then, Margaret has enjoyed guiding the full span of mountain pursuits, from big names like the Matterhorn and the Eiger all the way through to the deep connection forged by introducing her guests to the foundations of backcountry travel. An active member of the guiding community, Margaret is an instructor of guide training for the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA). She served many years on the technical committee of the AMGA, 13 on the board of directors, and 5 years as president of the organization. She is deeply involved in avalanche education through her work as an AIARE (American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education) professional course instructor, trainer, and technical committee member. She holds a bachelor's degree in history from Dartmouth College and a master's in mechanical engineering from University of Washington. In 2024 Margaret and her co-authors released the second edition of their 2007 book Backcountry Skiing, Skills for Ski Touring and Ski Mountaineering. These days Margaret splits her time during the winter between riding her skis and immersing herself in developing her skills riding and teaching on her snowmobile. When she is not in the mountains Margaret and her husband are busy trying to keep up with their two daughters in Ketchum, Idaho.

BIO COMING SOON

As a climber, skier, scientist, and engineer, Kevin Grove seeks adventure in remote regions of Central Oregon and beyond. He has a passion for all things related to snow and loves sharing that passion with his physics, engineering, avalanche and snow science students at Central Oregon Community College. His own firsthand experience with an avalanche, loosing several friends to mountain accidents, and becoming a father all caused Kevin to dig more deeply into snow science and, in particular, the psychology of decision-making. He was on the board of Central Oregon Avalanche Center for a decade, working hard to increase avalanche safety in Central Oregon and was Co-Chair of ISSW 2023 in Bend. Kevin is a photographer at heart and loves capturing images of his adventures in the mountains and of individual snowflakes. He has come to realize what matters most is not the quantity of mountains he climbs, but the quality of the connections he has with friends, partners, family, and the natural world. Kevin has an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Montana State University and lives in Bend, Oregon with his lovely wife and two daughters.

Gabrielle grew up skiing in a small town in Montana. She has guided and educated across the mountains of Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, forecasted wet snow on the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park, and is now the director of the Payette Avalanche Center. She loves puzzling over snow and finding creative ways to access obscure spots in ranges all winter, but most of all enjoys connecting with folks from across the industry who ensure others' safety all winter long in ski areas, along roadways, and across mountain slopes.