The e-mails started to flood Jim Woodmencey’s inbox back in August. All of them asked the same question: What kind of winter is Jackson Hole in store for?

Woodmencey, the forecaster behind MountainWeather.com and Jackson Hole Radio, offered an answer Thursday during Skinny Skis’ annual Avalanche Awareness Night at Snow King Resort. This winter will be much drier than last, and the lighter snowpack will result in an increased avalanche danger, Woodmencey predicted.

“Less snowy winters with shallower snowpack prove to be the most dangerous winters with the most fatalities (due to avalanches),” he said.

Last year, more than 600 inches of snow fell at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

Woodmencey entertained a standing-room only crowd inside Snow King’s Grand Room with a 15-minute slideshow presentation. He was one of several presenters featured during the event.

The meteorologist displayed a fake newspaper headline proclaiming last year the “Sickest Winter Ever” He then showed a fake headline proclaiming this season, “Not the Sickest Winter Ever.”

“Last year was hard to beat,” he said. “You could ski anywhere and do anything.”

Others speakers included Rod Newcomb of the American Avalanche Institute as well as Emmy Award-winning cinematographer and mountaineer John Griber.

Griber highlighted the event with a 45-minute slideshow presentation detailing his attempt to climb Gasherbrum II – a 26,000-foot peak in Northern Pakistan – in July of 2007. Griber mesmerized the crowd with stunning photographs and stories of his month-long journey in which he dodged car bombs in urban Pakistan on his way to the 13th highest peak in the world.

Griber and his team were attempting to climb the mountain and ski down, an expedition that took a month of planning and cost nearly $40,000.
The team ascended to 24,000 feet before brutal weather conditions and a depleted food supply forced them to end their climb shy of the summit.

“We were sad we didn’t get to the summit,” Griber said. “But we played the right cards. We had an amazing experience and got to meet some amazing people.”

Griber ended his speech with a fitting message given the nature of the evening. Whether mountaineering or back-country skiing, never take too many chances.

“The mountains will always be there,” he said. “Whether you’re halfway around the world or right here in Jackson, safety comes first.

Utilize the resources you have, check all of the avalanche conditions, because even a quick little trip can have catastrophic consequences.”