Looking to become a ski guide? Are you a backcountry skier, snowmobiler or snow safety professional? If so, an advanced, professional discussion on snow safety could be just right for you.

After a successful avalanche awareness night at the De’d Dog Pub last week, Parks Canada is holding a second avalanche safety evening, this time for more advanced snow safety professionals - those who spend extensive time in avalanche terrain, and must make life or death decisions about snow pack.

Last week, Parks Canada held an information night that brought 175 people out to learn more about avalanche safety, enjoy some pasta, beer and learn about the danger in the mountains.

“We really targeted the younger crowd because we just want to get the information out there that there is danger in the mountains and they need to be aware of it... where do they get more information and where do they get the knowledge and where do they get the courses and the basic equipment – beacon, probe, shovel – and the know-how,” said Garth Lemke, Public Safety Specialist with Jasper National Park.

The evening at the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives will be different.

“This is more advanced. The public is welcome to jump in. It’s for professionals, avalanche professionals and people with advanced experience and interest in snow safety. So, if you fit any of that criteria, if you have an interest in snow safety, if you want to be a guide, or you work at the ski hill, or you just want to know more. You want to get involved, you want to rub shoulders with professionals in the community, they are all going to be there,” said Lemke.

The evening will be highlighted by guest speakers Cameron Ross, Applied Snow and Avalanche Research (ASARC) Lead Researcher at the University of Calgary, and local mountain guide Peter Amann who has more than 25 years of experience teaching and guiding in the Rockies.

Ross will discuss the differences between snowmobile stress and skier stress on the snow pack and the propagation saw test method and recording standard.

Amann will have a slideshow and talk about the history of Marmot Basin and the history of avalanche control at Marmot Basin.

“Anyone interested in knowing the history of Marmot Basin (would be interested in this talk),” said Lemke. “He’s going to have a bunch of shots there from when they didn’t have chairlifts, and the original rope tow. And they used to, even before that, just drive people up and down with a CAT.

“You know, there are old incidents that happened. Why did Charlie’s Bowl get named Charlie’s? There’s a story behind that. And how avalanche control evolved at Marmot Basin from the 60’s to today?”

Admission to the evening is free, and runs from 7-9pm downstairs at the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives.