Avalanche Information Centers in the U.S.

Backcountry skiing or boarding is one of my favorite activities. It's quite a nice departure from ice climbing, which is also one of my favorite activities. In many areas, both backcountry skiing/boarding and ice climbing put us into avalanche terrain. To travel in these areas, you must learn about avalanche safety! The first thing to do is take an avalanche safety class. Another wonderful resource is your local avalanche information center, which offer free observations, snowpack discussions, and recommendations. Remember that they are information and not gospel. You need to combine this resource with what you observe in the field!

Here are several avalanche information centers:

Alaska:

• State-wide: Alaska Avalanche Information Center
• Chugach: Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center
• Juneau: City of Juneau

Washington:

• Northwest Avalanche Information Center (NWAC)

Oregon:

• Northern: Northwest Avalanche Information Center (NWAC)
• Wallowas: Wallowa Avalanche Center

Montana:

• West Central Montana: Missoula Avalanche Org.
• Gallatin National Forest (South of Bozeman): Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center
• Flathead (Kalispell and NW Montana): Flathead Avalanche Center

Idaho:

• Panhandle: Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
• Payette, Boise, McCall: Payette Avalanche Center
• Sawtooths: Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center

Wyoming:

• Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

Utah:

• Utah Avalanche Center 

Colorado:

• Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC)

Arizona:

• Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center

California:

• Eastern Sierras: Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center
• Central Sierras (incl. Truckee & Tahoe): Sierra Avalanche Center
• Mt. Shasta: Mount Shasta Avalanche Center

New Hampshire

• Mount Washington Avalanche Center

--Mike Pond, Instructor and Guide