The High Route Podcast24 Okt 2025

An Avalanche Awareness Episode: Dr. Patrick Fink and the Latest Research on the Safeback SBX System

In this episode, which comes fast on the heels of our last episode (we’re getting a bit ambitious over here), we explore some new research about the Safeback SBX system. The research paper we explore is titled "Respiratory Gas Shifts to Delay Asphyxiation in Critical Avalanche Burial." The research paper was published in the esteemed Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Our resident ER Doc and wilderness medicine expert, Dr. Patrick Fink, is our guest to help break down the research.

Ok, what is the Safeback SBX system? Here’s how Fink explains it: “It’s a manually-triggered fan system that can be integrated into a backpack or vest that directs a flow of fresh air around a rider’s face during an avalanche burial."

We have a few articles about the Safeback SBX system—you can find those stories here.

If you are new to The High Route, we are a reader and listener-supported enterprise focusing on human-powered turn making. Our mission is simple, but it takes real-deal calorie-burning to piece it all together.

We’d like to thank Patagonia, Blue Ice, and ATK for supporting us.

We are also excited to announce that you can subscribe to Issues 2 and 3 of our fine print journal (The High Route journal) on our site. Fancy paper. Good reads. High-octane photos. And some fine mountain ranges. And turns. You can learn more about our subscription options here.

The theme music for The High Route Podcast comes from Storms in the Hill Country and the album The Self Transforming (Thank you, Jens Langsjoen). You can find a link to the album here—there are so many good songs on this album. And if you think you've spotted a UFO in the past or visited the 7th dimension, "Beautiful Alien" is a good tune to start with.

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Avsnitt(43)

An Offseason Reboot with Zahan Billimoria

In this episode, we connect with Teton-based IFMGA guide and founder/coach at Samsara Experience, Zahan Billimoria. Samsara offers online and in-person training for aspiring and well-established mount...

1 Juli 1h 4min

The Indefatigable Episode with Andy and Jason Dorais

In this episode, we connect with the never-fatigued duo, the Dorais brothers…Andy and Jason Dorais. The brief backstory is this: Andy and Jason are both ER doctors in Salt Lake City. Which means that,...

28 Maj 1h 11min

It’s Not Tennis: With Vince Anderson

In this episode, we have the good fortune of speaking with all-around world-class mountain traveler, IFMGA guide, and dad, Vince Anderson. For those of you keen on high-end alpinism, in 2005, Anderson...

11 Maj 1h 31min

Skinning and Skiing with Big Sky Mountain Products

In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with the two folks behind the climbing skins at Big Sky Mountain Products, Jackson Keogh and Eric Haferman. These upstanding young men run the busines...

27 Mars 1h 22min

Learning the Ropes with Tina Currin Haver

In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Tina Haver Currin. Here’s some background. Currin is a crusher when it comes to long-distance thru-hikes…and that may be redundant, as we assume,...

13 Feb 1h 18min

Making Art (not Air) with Matthew Tufts

In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Matthew Tufts, a touring focused ski journalist and storyteller and photographer. To be clear, he is Vermont-raised, but at least for some of the...

16 Jan 1h 12min

Part 2: A Wrinkle in Time with Ptor Spricenieks

In this episode of The High Route Podcast, we feature part two of our interview with Ptor Spricenieks, a noted adventure skier, cosmic traveler, and family man who resides in La Grave, France. Be fo...

18 Dec 202542min

Part 1: A Wrinkle in Time with Ptor Spricenieks

In this episode of The High Route Podcast, we connect with Ptor Spricenieks, a noted ski mountaineer, husband, father, cosmic traveler, guide, and Canadian of Latvian descent, who has lived with his f...

16 Dec 202546min