MEET THE FOUNDERS

Quantum Snow was founded by Peter Veals and Trey Alvey, two PhD atmospheric scientists who love to ski deep powder. Their work has given them a deep knowledge of the physics of ice crystal growth, and their frequent backcountry ski tours have given them the desire to ski fresh, dry powder every morning even when Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate.

Peter Veals

Peter grew up in Durango, CO and was rarely indoors, winter or summer. The fickleness of mountain weather and frequent snowstorms stoked his curiosity and led to a lifelong passion for the physics of the atmosphere. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma, where he observed some of the most violent thunderstorms on Earth up close, including an EF-5 tornado and softball-sized hail. Peter missed the mountains though, and he chose the University of Utah for his graduate studies. His Master’s and PhD in atmospheric science focused on the mechanisms leading to the generation and enhancement of snowfall over high terrain, bringing an intimate understanding of ice crystal growth. He currently works as an assistant professor at the U of U, and can often be found trying to fix weather instruments in the middle of a Wasatch snowstorm.

Trey Alvey

Trey grew up in New Orleans, LA, where he only saw snow in person once or twice. His frequent surfing trips along the Gulf Coast, combined with the life-changing impact of hurricane Katrina in 2005 sparked his passion for studying the atmosphere. Trey landed at the University of Utah for his Master’s and PhD in atmospheric science. His research has determined a number of the mechanisms important for the rapid intensification of hurricanes, including ice crystal processes high in the storms. Trey is also a now a certified powder addict and has skied big peaks all over the Wasatch range, even traveling to Japan to get his powder fix. He is still working to improve the understanding of hurricanes, and his current job involves flying through them in the P-3 “Hurricane Hunter“ aircraft.