Gendered decision-making practices in Alaska's dynamic mountain environments? A study of professional mountain guides

Avalanche professionals make dozens of decisions each time they step into the field. The best practices for decision-making in high-risk, dynamic environments are widely researched and discussed in the snow professional community. However, previous research in the leisure and outdoor recreation fields has failed to address the different ways in which male and female guides gather information and make decisions. This exploratory study sought to better understand the influence of an individual's gender identity on their decision-making and risk tolerance. A survey was administered to professional guides on Denali in the 2014 mountaineering season. Respondents answered questions pertaining to the factors that influenced their decision-making and risk tolerance, as well as their perceptions of those qualities in their coworkers. Results show that while there is no statistical difference between the personal risk tolerance levels of male and female Denali guides, but female backcountry partners are perceived to have a lower risk tolerance. This indicates the potential presence of a "gender heuristic trap". MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS A better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of common decision making practices among avalanche professionals is crucial for improving their safety. Perceptions about male and female characteristics are problematic if they are not representative of actual behavior in the field. A better understanding of the decision-making practices of professional mountain guides also provide the foundation for the development of avalanche safety initiatives for recreational, non-professional backcountry users. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.