About us

The AvyScanner is the brainchild of Gordon Pratt, Nikki Rota, and Rockee Zhang. 

Gordon Pratt

“As I worked through the field aspects of my Level-2 avalanche certification a few years ago, I kept thinking there had to be a better way to characterize the stratigraphy and stability of the snowpack that was quicker and less subjective than snow pits and the hand hardness test. I was always amazed that several experienced ski guides could perform the hand hardness test in the same pit just a few feet apart and end up with dramatically different results. Later, using a digital penetrometer, we confirmed that hand hardness tests did not correlate well with the empirical results. The following year, I was retaking a Level-1 class with Nikki and my family and during climbs we brainstormed ideas for how to evaluate the snowpack for weak layers many times and in many locations during a day in the backcountry, without digging multiple pits. We wanted objective results and a large number of tests over large area to address the issue of spatial variability. Over the next few months, we looked into strain gauges on avalanche probes, ultrasound, and other sensing methods. Eventually we settled on ultra-wideband radar. We founded Avametrix and teamed with Dr. Rockee Zhang and his team at the Oklahoma University Radar Innovations Lab to develop the snow-scanning radar technology. Preliminary snowlabs with an engineering prototype indicated we could detect layers down at least two meters and we were off to the races. I’m so excited to bring this technology to the market so people can avoid avalanches rather than hope to survive them.”

Nikki Rota

“I am fortunate enough to live and work in a year-round outdoor playground.  Living in such a beautiful place during the winter months inspired me to explore terrain that is less trafficked and more pristine.  This required me to become familiar with the backcountry and all of the risks that go along with its exploration.  It wasn’t long after tagging along with friends in the side country that I knew I needed more tools and decided to take my first avalanche training course.  This is where Gordon and I first teamed up and started discussing a harebrained scheme, now known as the AvyScanner.  As Gordon and I were schlepping up a snow-covered ridge, we started discussing technology and why on Earth wasn’t there a faster and more reliable way to assess avalanche risk.  Digging a snow pit is not only a ton of work but also highly subjective.  Spending the majority of my life in public service and health care, my priority is to figure out a way to make traveling to the backcountry safer, and therefor more enjoyable.  Producing a device that takes the subjectivity out of characterizing the snow pack is a big step in doing just that.  The AvyScanner has several features that can help in making an informed decision, and it is the only avalanche safety device designed to be used BEFORE an avalanche occurs.  I am absolutely thrilled that after three years of hard work, research, and testing, our device is nearly ready to be added to your backcountry pack!”