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.