schnee.semmelnar meets ICAR
Hofburg Innsbruck
Seminarraum BFW
Rennweg 1, 6020 Innsbruck
Description
Stefan Hochstaffl
President, Austrian Mountain Rescue Service
Welcome & short introduction of the Austrian Mountain Rescue Service
Martin Gurdet
National Managing Director, Austrian Mountain Rescue Service
ICAR and ICAR Conference 2026 in Innsbruck
Mike Koppang
Vice-president, ICAR Avalanche Rescue Commission
Tasks and current focus of the AVA Commission
Jen Reddy
Education Manager – PRO, American Avalanche Association (A3)
Early Lessons from the Castle Peak Incident
The avalanche near Castle Peak on February 17, 2026, was one of the deadliest incidents in U.S. ski guiding history. It involved twelve clients and three ski guides, nine of whom lost their lives that day.
This incident stands out not only for the profound loss of life, but also for the severity of the storm, the unusual presence of a persistent weak layer in a maritime snowpack, the extensive media coverage, the significant challenges it posed to rescue efforts, and subsequent investigations, and litigation.
Given the ongoing investigations and lawsuits, this presentation aims to present the facts as currently known and to share the early lessons that can be drawn from this tragedy.
Accident Report Colorado Avalanche Information Center: https://avalanche.state.co.us/report/cc583756-68b3-4e06-9fa9-769af352fc18
About the speaker
Jen Reddy is the Pro Training Program Manager for the American Avalanche Association, where she develops and leads professional-level avalanche education for guides, patrollers, forecasters, and rescue professionals across the US. Her background spans both the operational and educational sides of the field: she has worked as a heli-ski guide in Valdez, Alaska, and spent over a decade with Teton County Search and Rescue. She currently serves on the Board of the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center Foundation. Jen recently returned from riding a ridiculously underpowered motorcycle across Mongolia.