Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center Staff Forecasters
Doug Chabot
Doug, director of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center, received his B.A. in Outdoor Education from Prescott College in 1986. From 1990 to 1999 he worked as a professional ski patroller at Bridger Bowl Ski Area in Bozeman, Montana. Starting in 1995 Doug has worked for the GNFAC as an avalanche specialist. He's also a mountain guide and climber. Doug has been on numerous climbing expeditions to Alaska, Nepal, India, Afghanistan and Pakistan, resulting in many first ascents and new routes. In 2011, Doug and his wife Genevieve started Iqra Fund, a nonprofit doing education work for girls in northern Pakistan (www.iqrafund.org).
Mark Staples
Mark was introduced to snow in the wild Appalachian Mountains where he received a B.S. in Civil Engineering at the University of Virginia. He began teaching ski lessons, moved to Bozeman, eventually working for Big Sky in 2002 and started as a professional ski patroller there in 2004. He returned to school and obtained a Masters Degree at MSU where he studied the energy balance of snow in mountainous terrain and its effect on weak layer formation. His work at the Avalanche Center began in 2006 as an instructor. The following year he was hired as an avalanche specialist. In summer months Mark has worked as a rock guide, NOLS instructor, construction consultant, and civil engineer. In August 2010 he took on the most difficult job so far when his son Ethan was born.
Eric Knoff
Eric has worked as a full time forecaster for the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center since 2009. He attended MSU and graduated in 2000 with a degree in physical geography. Post graduation, Eric worked with the NRCS in Bozeman as a Cartographic Technician. In 2002 Eric moved to Utah and became a professional ski patroller at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, where he patrolled for the next six winters. In addition, Eric served as an avalanche forecaster for the Going-to-the Sun Road in Glacier National Park during the 2011 plowing season. Aside from avalanche forecasting, Eric has been as a professional mountain guide from 2001 to present for Exum Mountain Guides, Rainier Mountaineering Inc., and Mountain Link. He has guided trips from Alaska to South America and has been a two-time instructor for the Khumbu Climbing School in Phortse, Nepal.
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