Calculations of risk dominate the world of backcountry recreation, yet currently there are no tools to quantitatively characterize risk for individuals or groups without using questionnaires from other fields. This pilot study develops a method to characterize risk through a computational risk quotient that is produced based on specific values assigned to survey question responses collected during the winter of 2014 in Turnagain Pass, Alaska. This method allows for the comparison of risk tolerances across demographic fields while also revealing specific behaviors that contribute to higher risk, resulting in a valuable user profile for the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center (CNFAIC) and local avalanche education programs. In survey participants, users with the highest risk included those aged between 25-29, those with no formal training, and snowmachiners, these findings are in agreement with previous research. Decision making, planning, and knowingly entering into scenarios with objective hazards contributed most strongly to risk tolerances. This study will extend into the 2015 season for continued data collection and statistical analysis.
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