Juneau Avalanche Expert John Bessette

John Bressette is Juneau’s new avalanche advisor, and he stepped into the job at a wild moment. Tasked with tracking weather and avalanche risk along the capital’s urban paths, Bressette arrived just before record snowfall hit the city. What followed was rain, flooding, a disaster declaration, and evacuation advisories in downtown Juneau — putting his role to the test almost immediately. This is his story.