MissoulaAvalanche.org

Avalanche Information for West Central Montana

MissoulaAvalanche.org Board of Directors

Todd Frank

Owner and operator of The Trail Head in Missoula, Todd has been in the ski business for over 20 years. Todd, who alpine racing as a youngster at Red Lodge, has been an avid skier all his life. Todd is married with two kids, the whole family is often sighted skiing Discovery Basin on weekends. So far, Todd can beat the kids down the mountain.

He had his first backcountry experiences skiing Beartooth pass in the late 1970’s. Todd’s first close encounter with avalanche danger came at Lolo Pass in the early 1980’s. A local Missoula smokejumper was caught in an avalanche within 100 yards of where Todd was skiing. That victim was buried and killed tragically bringing home the very real danger of avalanches. Todd sees the increasing growth in winter backcountry use daily at his job. He sells to the tools and clothing to play in the backcountry safely. Todd is involved with missoulaavalanche.org to make sure Avalanche forecasting and Education continue and expand in the future.

Steve Porcella

Steve began climbing and backcountry skiing in the Sierra Nevada at age 10 in 1969 with his father and other well-known Yosemite climbers. In 1992 he co-authored The Hikers Guide to California's 14ers. In 1998 he co-authored The Climbers Guide to California's 14ers.  He has contributed to many climbing guide books/magazines across the west. He is married with two children Tori and Angelo, both avid skiers. Steve obtained his PhD in Microbiology at UM in 1994. He is currently Section Chief of the Research Technologies Section, Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana. Steve has been a National Ski Patrol member since 1999 at the Lost Trail Ski Resort. Steve’s reason for volunteering for with missoulaavalanche.org - "I have skied the back country forever and several of my good friends have died in avalanches over the years.  I have been caught in sloughs in the Sierra Nevada. No family should ever lose a son or daughter in an avalanche – avalanche awareness can help stem that preventable tragedy. I will continue to volunteer for the memory of lost friends as long as my help is needed."

Spencer Bradford

Spence feels fortunate everyday to be raising a family in West Central Montana. Currently employed as the Product Line Coordinator and Merchandise Manager at Big Sky Brewing, Spencer has had such diverse jobs as a television producer/director, river guide, photographer, and a night artesian bread baker. An avid telemark skier, Spencer won first place in the Slalom, and second place in the GS in the citizen class at the Telemark Nationals in Steamboat Colorado in March of 2007. Although comfortable in the “gates” Spence’s first love of skiing is powder in the Montana backcountry with friends. As president of the Missoula Whitewater Association he has enjoyed exposing people safely to all forms of river recreation, and was part of the effort to construct Brennan's Wave on the Clark Fork River. Spencer also enjoys spending time with his wife Molly and his daughter Elizabeth, reading, photography and creating video, mountain biking, hiking, and making fish laugh with his fly-fishing skills.

Ross Peterson

Ross is a Missoula native and life-long winter enthusiast who's Montana roots run through 4 generations. He spent his late teens and early 20's as a professional snowboarder and was lucky enough to ride and compete at resorts and backcountry locations across the continental US, Alaska, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and Europe.  Spending that time traveling eventually made him all he more appreciative of the incredible (and less crowded) mountains in his home state. He graduated from the University of Montana with an art/media arts degree and put his creative talents to work as art directory/web developer here in the Missoula valley. He is a founding member of the Montana Skatepark Association. Ross was a key cog in the $750,000 public skatepark project in Missoula's McCormick Park. The 16,000 sq. foot structure was donated to the city of Missoula and is free and open to the public 365 days/year. He volunteers as a Big Brother with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program in Missoula and enjoys hanging out with his family, working on home remodeling projects, and traveling to warm places with his surfboard whenever possible.

Samantha Schoeneman

“Sam” is a Montana native, raised in the Bitterroot Valley. Sam graduated from the University of Montana with a BS in Health and Human Performance and a BA in Psychology. After serving some time as a river guide on the Salmon River and a Professional Ski Patrol member she completed her Masters in Physical Therapy at the University of Utah. She is now a part owner of Alpine Physical Therapy and Pilates Instructor/Educator at Peak Health and Wellness Center. Sam donates her time to Camp-Mak-A-Dream, the Fit To Fight Oncology Wellness and missoulaavalanche.org.

Sam works with missoulaavalanche.org because she believes it a good idea to provide avalanche awareness and education for the public. As she puts it - “I feel it is important Montana residents and tourists alike to enjoy the winter recreational opportunities on public lands, ultimately allowing for a deeper appreciation and understanding of our natural resources in Western MT.  As the access to MT backcountry increases due to technologies of improved equipment and population, folks should have access to education and information to use the backcountry safely.”

Dudley Improta (ex-officio)

Dudley moved to Missoula 31 year ago. Never to be a native Montanan, he married one and helped procreate two others. Dudley has been with the University of Montana for 27 years. He ran the Outdoor Program for 20 years and is now an Assistant Director for Campus Recreation. He has been involved with avalanche education and ski education in the area for a long time. He has attended the National Avalanche School and Professional Courses with the American Avalanche Association. He was instrumental in developing a Backcountry Ski Instructor Certification for the Northern Rocky Professional Ski Instructors. The University generously donates some of Dudley’s time in the winter to help collect data and write advisories for the West Central Montana Avalanche Center. Besides helping missoulaavalanche.org Dudley has been a Boy Scout Leader, a Chair for the Professional Ski instructors of America, a member of the Blackfoot Recreation Steering Committee, a member of the Montana River Recreation Advisory Committee and serves on UM’s Charitable Giving Executive Committee.