Laura’s snow safety work protected
both resort skiers and backcountry skiers from avalanches.
At Mt. Hood Meadows, Laura’s job at ski patrol
included skiing into avalanche-prone terrain before
the skiing public arrives and detonating explosives
that trigger avalanches. By pre-triggering avalanches,
it prevents them from being able to roll down on skiers
during business hours at the resort. It keeps in-bounds
skiers safe. She was also a professional “observer” for
Northwest Avalanche Center, collecting field data that
would be translated into backcountry forecasts. Both
jobs are the kind you don’t want to mess up.
Laura shouldered the weight of that responsibility
to keep the public safe and enjoyed her duties. |