Backcountry adventure has become a four season and sometimes extreme condition pursuit for many in the Green and White Mountains. On occasion, those adventures can turn, leaving the adventurer overcome on a ridge or ravine, and in need of rescue. If you spend any time in the backcountry, you know your ability to come home safely relies on accurately assessing the risks you will face, having the knowledge and equipment to avoid or face those risks, the ability to communicate if needed, and sometimes just some very good luck.
Peacham Library will present a 4-hour, multi-speaker program entitled, Safety in the Backcountry, which will address managing risk, search and rescue, preparedness and wilderness first aid. The program will be held on Sunday, February 12, 2023, from 1 pm to 5 pm at the Peacham Congregational Church. The program is free and open to all.
This link will take you to our youtube page. Click the “Live” tab. The livestream will appear about 5 minutes before the scheduled start of the event.
The five speakers bring a wealth of knowledge and breadth of experience to their subjects.
Ty Gagne, CEO of New Hampshire Risk Management Exchange (Primex 3 ) and author of The Last Traverse: Tragedy and Resilience in the Winter Whites and Where You’ll Find Me: Risk, Decisions, and the Last Climb of Kate Matrosova, will speak on risk-taking, decision-making, leadership, and humility while in the backcountry.
Drew Clymer, Vermont DPS Search and Rescue Coordinator and Stowe Mountain Rescue Member, and
Sergeant Heidi Murphy, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Assistant District 3 Chief will explain the multilayered world of people, equipment and agencies involved in search and rescue in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Jeff Lane, former USFS Snow Ranger and Mt. Washington Avalanche Center weather forecaster and current avalanche and wilderness medicine educator, will discuss backcountry preparedness.
Andrea Kane, a SOLO Lead Instructor and founder and CEO of Peacham-based Train NEK will offer a Wilderness First Aid Primer, providing basic information on preventing, recognizing and treating medical emergencies and injuries in rural and remote settings.
For more information, contact the Peacham Library at 802-592-3216, or director@peachamlibrary.org
Peacham Library 