It’s a pretty common question, “should I refresh my Level 1 avalanche course?” At the heart of it, we’re all asking something similar, "how often do I need a backcountry refresher?" It isn't always clear how or how often we should refresh our backcountry education in a formalized setting. Let’s take a look at three questions that can help us be life-long learners in the snow and develop a plan for growing our skills this winter.

We all love the mountains. Whether you carve powder on your snow machine or enjoy a walk down a snowshoe trail, our passion for the outdoors unites us. The vast majority of our recreation takes place on public lands, and as such we all have a vested interest in maintaining these outdoor spaces. Two often cited ethos, Recreate Responsibly and Leave No Trace,  feel right at home when considering a summer hike or camping trip with the family. But, how do these philosophies fit into our winter wonderland?

Since it’s officially fall, we have to ask the question on every backcountry traveler’s mind – what will this winter look like in the Pacific Northwest?

If you’re like me, September marks the season of anticipation and waiting. I find myself perusing new winter gear online, becoming jealous of early snow dustings in Montana, and dreaming of mid-winter powder days. While this can make fall seem painfully long and slow, this time doesn’t need to be wasted. So, what can you do to start preparing your brain for winter?

Over the last year, as we updated our organization's mission, we've held considerable conversation about our vision and our values. NWAC is a community-powered organization that serves many different user groups who access the backcountry in the Pacific Northwest. At times over our history, those groups, or cross-sections of them have sometimes been on opposite ...

NWAC and SheJumps are partnering to provide a mentorship program aimed at aspiring female-identifying avalanche professionals. Mentees will work with active professionals in the avalanche industry to assist in a SheJumps AIARE Level 1 course, shadow professionals in their area of interest, and receive structured feedback and guidance. This program is designed to actively support ...

With great sadness, the Northwest Avalanche Center would like to recognize and share the passing of Board Member Tab Wilkins. Tab died this weekend from injuries related to a fall while skiing with friends in the Whistler Blackcomb area.

Surface hoar is a common persistent grain. Timothy Rogers photo

The last two weeks have seen a string of avalanche fatalities, several of which involved a Persistent Slab problem. [*Please note this blog was originally published on March 13th, 2018.] This type of avalanche is often associated with the thin, cold snowpacks of interior mountain ranges. But our ...

A remotely triggered wind slab under Chair Peak on 12/23. Observer Jeremy Allyn elected to forego the descent to Snow Lake. Photo by Kurt Hicks

This post focuses on wind slabs, a particularly tricky avalanche problem. Several parties have reported unintentionally triggering wind slabs in the region recently (and we commend those people for ...

NWAC launches the Trailhead Outreach Project