Can you please tell us about your work at Snow Research Station, where you used to work for some time as well?

After 13 years of working at a weather observing station at the peak of Kasprowy Wierch, I had to take a break, and moved to a small hut located in one of the bowls surrounding Kasprowy – Gasienicowa Bowl. As the observing station is classified as a first class high mountain facility in the international system, you had to follow very rigorous procedures.

At the Snow Research Station we were fully committed to researching snow, and the processes that occur within the snowpack. It helped me a lot to understand the complicated nature of this phenomena and gather loads of knowledge that I can use to estimate avalanche danger or find the best snow to ski. For example – the general rule says that one should avoid northern slopes due to avalanche danger, but there are certain situations when the northern aspect will be the safest place to ski.

Taking good decisions based on such knowledge requires being in the mountains very often, but it seems like this knowledge worked for me many times. I did not get into more serious avalanche trouble and hopefully it will stay like this. In the Snow Research Station we have modern equipment to gather different data about the snowpack and what is more, I made some friends among people who research the snow scientifically.