Edward Randle "Ed" LaChapelle (1926-2007) was born in May 31 Tacoma, Washington. After studying physics and math at the University of Puget Sound and spending time at the Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research he joined the United States Forest Service as a snow ranger in Alta, Utah in 1952.
In addition to his two decades of work at Alta's avalanche center, LaChapelle was professor of atmospheric sciences and geophysics at the University of Washington from 1967 to 1982 and professor emeritus until his death. He also researched the subject at the Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) of the University of Colorado at Boulder from 1973-1977 and was involved in the 1968 development of the avalanche transceiver beacon. Edward LaChapelle died of a heart attack at Colorado's Monarch Ski Area on February 1, 2007.
The Edward LaChapelle avalanche control video collection (1950-1970) consists of films about avalanche danger, control and research. Several films document early avalanche control done at Alta, Utah. The collection also includes some of LaChapelle's home movies and other ski related footage.
The materials are arranged by format type.
Audio-visual materials can be fragile and require specialized equipment to play back. For this reason, access to audio-visual materials is provided through digital copies, and it might take longer to provide access to items that are not yet digitized. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law, condition of the material, or by donor.
See also Edward LaChapelle's 35mm slides, located with the photograph collections, and his ex-wife Dolores LaChapelle's photograph collection (P0981).
Forms part of the Ski and Snow Sports Archives (S.J. Quinney Outdoor Recreation Archives).
Processed by Dean Pickett in 2000.
Filmed by Gorow Wakehame and Katutosi Tusima, instructors in low temperature science, Hokkaido University, Suppero, Japan.
Filmed by Monty Atwater for Disney. Footage of Honeycomb Ridge and cornice blast.
1963 Material not used in film "Avalanche Control." Includes scenes of control work and various avalanche artillery such as the original muzzle-loading avalauncher.
Various scenes of terrain skiers, avalanche control and snow tests. Material of historical interest.
Original footage used in Avalanche Control. Scenes of test skiing, fracture line profile, slope measurements, assorted weapons firing: recoilless rifle, 75mm howitzer, avalauncher (original model).
Various scenes of firing artillery, shell bursts and avalanche releases prepared to illustrate avalanche control on a television program.
Scenes of avalanche control with various weapons, avalanche releases, observation techniques and details involved in the taking a fracture line profile. Some of this footage was used in "Avalanche Control."
Various scenes of terrain, snowplowing, avalanche control. General historical interest.
Directed by Ed LaChapelle.
Home movies, footage of people firing guns, cornice kicking and some ski cuts.
A KSL news broadcast about an avalanche which took place in Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Produced by The United States Army. 27 minutes.
Dubs of items 2-22.
Dubs of items 2-16, 19.