Drew Kneeland

grew up skiing at Smuggler’s Notch in northern Vermont and moved to Jackson Hole the day after graduating from Colorado College in 1989. For the past decade, he has lived in Victor, Idaho, with his wife and two kids. His interest in avalanche safety began during his first winter job as a ski host, where he was part of a first-response team supporting patrol mitigation efforts. Attending the National Avalanche School in 1993 solidified his commitment to the field, leading to his long-standing career as a ski patroller. A defining moment in his career occurred during the powerful February 2017 storm cycle, where his team shifted focus from skier safety to protecting infrastructure under extreme conditions, a challenge that reshaped his approach to avalanche safety.

Outside of work, he enjoys camping, biking, hiking, skiing, and boating with his family. One of his favorite films is The Fisherman’s Friends, a story he highly recommends.