If you don’t know Craig Gordon, then you need to re-assess how you spend your time on Instagram. Prominently featured on The Utah Avalanche Center’s social media outlets, known for his glowing personality and his incredible depth of knowledge, Craig is one of the biggest names in snow safety today. As Backcountry Podcast host and professional snowboarder Nils Mindnich mentions in the opening minutes, “Craig’s relationship with avalanche stewardship started long before the advent of social media. It even predates the internet itself, which makes Craig one of the most well-respected and reputable characters in the realm of avalanche safety.” If you’re looking for the most passionate and knowledgeable avalanche expert in the world, you’ve found him.
Individuals like Craig are vital and can be hard to come by. He’s as passionate about helping others as he is about the work and research he does every day. He is a vibrant sign that the snow industry and the outdoors have much to offer people. Not only in terms of a job and career but in terms of happiness and fulfillment. Whether you listen to Craig talk for one minute or one hour, it becomes increasingly clear that he loves what he does with all he has. He’s an incredibly genuine human who works hard, lives life to the fullest and reaps the rewards of his labor.
Nils and Craig chat about Craig’s life story, his days patrolling at Brighton, building avalanche safety into what it is today, the magical 2022/23 season, the Beatles in your living room, and so much more. Thank you to Craig and all those who work tirelessly to bring awareness and knowledge to all of us who love the mountains.
The Backcountry Podcast can be found on all major streaming platforms.
From YouTube:
As the face of the Utah Avalanche Center, Craig Gordon’s roots run deep in all things snow safety, powder skiing, and the Utah backcountry skiing community. From his time ski patrolling at Brighton to presenting snow safety to high school auditoriums, Craig has dedicated his life to spreading snow safety knowledge.
Nils uses his own backcountry riding experience to probe Craig about how exactly the Utah Avalanche Center came to be what it is today. These two also cover some fascinating insights about the historic 2022–2023 snow year and even dive into the 2023–2024 snowfall projection.
