about US

Okay, so you may be asking what’s with the walrus?

It all happened one fateful afternoon at a local rock crag where I managed to use my knee to bolster myself onto a ledge on the route we were climbing. My climbing partner spotted this and immediately started heckling me from belay: “What is this?! A knee!? Are you some kind of Alpine Walrus!?”

Of course, in my head, I immediately created an image of this unlikely mammal. I spent the next 10 minutes laughing and just gripped to the wall instead of actually climbing; thank goodness I was on a ledge. I'll never forget that moment, and how for a few short minutes my lack of skill had humbled me entirely... I suppose the rest is history.

The Alpine Walrus is, first and foremost; a symbol that demonstrates how absolutely anyone, with any sort of experience, can play safely in the alpine. Humans, much like walruses, are prone to doing silly things. Fall over on the skin track? Looks like a walrus to me. Climbing up waist deep power without something to float on?

humans are prone to Making Mistakes…

The walrus is my homage to human vulnerability, to the inevitably of making mistakes, to encourage training as a means to get better, and by encouraging training as a means to limit the potential of our sometimes hilarious blunders.

patrick

Owner / Instructor / Architect of Face Shots (Big White)

Hi, my name is Patrick "Poody" Shier, and I am the architect here at Alpine Walrus Training.

My life in snow started at a young age growing up at the foothills of “the shore” A.K.A North Vancouver. After graduating University, I quickly gave up on the idea of a career behind a desk, and started work as a ski patroller at Grouse Mountain. It didn't take long before snow quality on the coast forced me inland to Big White where I have spent almost a decade with the Big White Ski Patrol. I am a snowboarder, and while you may find me on skis from time to time, you will definitely find me hunting berms at a local banked slalom.

I am a Duty Avalanche Forecaster with Big White Ski Resort, and I have two first aid licenses, none of which are as a paramedic. I am part of the training team for the Big White Ski Patrol. I have a long term goal of seeing improved awareness and good decision making in the avalanche terrain areas surrounding Big White.

Whether it is your first time in avalanche terrain, or your hundredth. I look forward to being part of your process.

Brydan

Owner / Instructor / Huge Nerd (Revelstoke)

After growing up in Saskatchewan, I did a season in Fernie after high school and I was hooked. I was addicted to playing in the mountains. I went to University, got a degree, and spent years sitting at a desk all week and then racing out the door on Friday at 4 o’clock straight to the mountains. Eventually I switched careers and spent a while as a patroller and forecaster at Big White, but now I call Revelstoke home. Snowboarding is my passion but I’ll ski with you two plankers from time to time!

I’m fascinated by the mechanics of snow and the science behind avalanches. If I’m not at home there’s a good chance you’ll find me digging a hole looking at the snow somewhere in the mountains. I’m an Avalanche Forecaster and a CSGA Guide and I’ve been involved in AST education since 2020.

I love to laugh and I love to teach, and taking a rowdy bunch of skiers and snowboarders into the backcountry every weekend has become one of my favorite parts of winter!