Avalanche tragedy offers opportunity to support snow science, honor wife, mother and Boise community member

Liz Clabaugh in Jan. 2026 in Sawtooth Mountains, ID. Photo provided by Jeffrey Johnson.

Liz Clabaugh, a Boise State alum, returning student, educator at Saint Luke's and wife of geophysics professor Jeffrey Johnson, was one of nine people who died in a California snow avalanche on Feb. 27, 2026.

For Johnson, a researcher whose infrasound studies involve snow avalanche work - including detection, monitoring and mitigation - the tragedy has deepened his commitment to this critical science.

"Idaho is a state impacted by snow avalanches and it is my hope to see that Liz's memory might minimize such events in the future and serve to save someone else's life," Johnson said.

Through the Boise State Foundation, Johnson and Boise State University's Crowdfunding Campaign created the Liz Clabaugh Snow Avalanche Memorial Fund dedicated to his wife's memory.

Utah field site for an ongoing study of avalanche dynamics and monitoring. "Avalanches pose increasing hazards to people and infrastructure across the Intermountain West, in Idaho and beyond". Photo credit Steven Clark, Utah Department of Transportation.

The fund will apply avalanche science research toward minimize avalanche hazard impacts in Idaho and beyond.

It is intended to seed new research projects, help engage students in the growing field of avalanche research and provide support for avalanche training, outdoor field gear, participation in conferences focused on snow science and dissemination of results in academic and public forums.

Boise State University's Department of Geosciences, which includes Johnson and other faculty and students, is an internationally recognized leader in snow science and avalanche physics.

"We plan to continue this research, both for its scientific merit, as well as for honoring the memory of my wife," Johnson said. "We already work with institutions that are tasked with monitoring areas with snow avalanche hazards and they use our technology to make informed decisions about whether a ski area or roadway is safe to open. This work will continue and expand."

Boise State Department of Geosciences personnel deploying avalanche monitoring equipment near Stanley, ID. From left to right Madeline Hunt (PhD student geophysics), Owen Walsh (MS student geophysics), Jerry Mock (lab manager and Snowbound Solutions staff) and Jacob Anderson (research professor). Photo provided by Jeffrey Johnson.

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