Due to lack of funding, we have had to indefinitely suspend our backcountry advisory program. It was popular, but depended on over 50 hours a week of totally volunteer labor and was not sustainable.

The pages from it are archived here as an example of what we could do if and when we had the funding. We would be happy to revive and expand the program if it is properly funded. Check it out, this was a valuable and worthwhile service.

Using the Advisories

Beware of interpreting conditions based on only a few sample points or snow tests. Remember, snow is spatially variable and inherently unpredictable. You must always make your own site-specific observations and decisions in the field. Conditions where you are, at the time you are there, will probably differ from those posted here.

You will need some training, a Level I or higher course, to properly interpret these observations. We have have posted some helpful information to get you started, though. We have a downloadable 2.5 MB PDF file of the Level I course handouts on evaluating snow stability and keeping field notes that will help you understand the snow tests and the field observations format, we have a downloadable PDF file of our fieldbook key pages for quick reference, and we have an explanation for the metrically-challenged of the units of measure that avalanche fieldworkers use.

The standard field snow observation guidelines in the US are jointly published by the American Avalanche Association (AAA) and the USDA Forest Service National Avalanche Center as Snow, Weather, and Avalanches: Observational Guidelines for Avalanche Programs in the United States. The AAA website has ordering information, an online version of the guidelines, and links to a number of useful resources for snow observers.

How You can Help Out

This site is a bit like public radio, we "broadcast" information on the web, but we have no operational funding to do this job. If you are a user, please chip in and help out. Here are three ways you can contribute:

• Individual Center memberships are $35 per year, family memberships $50, and corporate, business, agency, or group memberships are $100. Join up, and consider sending in an additional contribution if you can. We are a 501(c)3 educational nonprofit corporation, so contributions to us are tax-deductible. Make checks out to Southeast Alaska Avalanche Center and send them to us at PO Box 20578, Juneau, AK 99802.
• You can let our administrators and political decisionmakers know they should be funding the Center, and steer them to the Annual Report Executive Summary, PDF File (<1MB) as the best concise summary of the problem, what we are doing about it, and what we need to continue and to do the job properly. Study the About Us section and the Executive Summary PDF for information on what we do and what we need. What we are doing as volunteers is done by government in the other avalanche states.
• Volunteer for field or office work. We need field assistants to help us so we can work safely, gather the data, and post it efficiently. You'll learn a lot and have some fun too. We need help with all the office work it takes to keep the Center running, and we can always use help with fundraising. Contact us here.