Montgomery Atwater Explained

Montgomery Atwater
Birth Date:1904
Birth Place:Baker City, Oregon
Death Date:1976
Nationality: American
Field:Snow Science, Author
Work Institution:United States Forest Service, 1945–
Alma Mater:Harvard College, 1926
Known For:Avalanche research and forecasting

Montgomery Meigs "Monty" Atwater (1904–1976) was an American avalanche researcher, forester, skier, and author. He is considered the founder of the field of avalanche research and forecasting in North America.

Early life

In 1904, Atwater was born in Baker City, Oregon.

Education

In 1926, Atwater earned an English Literature degree from Harvard College.

Career

Atwater worked a number of jobs including football coach, cattle rancher, and trapper. He lived in Montana in the 1930s and wrote short stories and mysteries, some under the pseudonym of Max Montgomery.

During World War II, Atwater served in the 10th Mountain Division as a winter warfare instructor.[1] Atwater reached the rank of captain while in active combat duty and being wounded. Atwater was discharged due to his injury.

In autumn 1945, Atwater became a forest ranger for the Wasatch National Forest where he managed public safety in Little Cottonwood Canyon in Alta, Utah. Over the next two decades he established the first avalanche research center in the Western Hemisphere at Alta, inventing many of the techniques and much of the equipment needed for avalanche forecasting and control.

In 1960, Atwater served as the Avalanche Control Chief during the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California. Atwater successfully prevented any major avalanches during the Games despite a history of huge chairlift-destroying avalanches there.

In 1960s, with Frank Parsoneault, Atwater developed the Mark 10 Avalaunchers, a pneumatic cannon for launching avalanche control explosives.

In 1964, Atwater retired from the Forest Service. In 1966, he repeated his masterful job of avalanche control at the alpine skiing World Championships in Portillo, Chile, where the ski area had been almost completely destroyed by massive avalanches only a year earlier but successfully held the Championships unscathed. He also served as a consultant to ski areas, mining companies, and telecommunication companies throughout the mountainous regions of North and South America.

Atwater ran a small research lab in Squaw Valley.

Personal life

In 1945, Atwater moved to Alta, Utah.[1]

Atwater had three sons, James E. Atwater, Robert and Montgomery.

In 1976, Atwater died of a heart attack.[1]

Awards

Bibliography

General books
Young Adult/Juvenile Fiction

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: https://www.adventure-journal.com/2018/02/meet-first-guy-chuck-bomb-avalanche-hazard/ . Meet the First Guy to Chuck a Bomb at an Avalanche Hazard . adventure-journal.com . Abbie . Barronian . February 1, 2018 . August 29, 2020.
  2. Web site: https://backcountrymagazine.com/stories/montgomery-atwater-father-of-u-s-avalanche-work/ . MONTGOMERY ATWATER: FATHER OF U.S. AVALANCHE WORK . backcountrymagazine.com . Tyler . Cohen . April 24, 2019 . August 29, 2020.
  3. Web site: https://skihall.com/hall-of-famers/montgomery-m-atwater/ . Montgomery M. Atwater . skihall.com . 1979 . August 29, 2020.
  4. Web site: http://www.altahistory.org/databaseshowitem.aspx?id=791 . Montgomery "Monty" Atwater . altahistory.org . August 28, 2020.

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