From the Director

The winter weather patterns—and resulting avalanche conditions—seem to outdo themselves nearly every year. It’s definitely not boring in southern and central Idaho, and I doubt I’ll recognize when we experience a “normal” winter. This season, I’ll remember our weak layer for the ages; we started seeing remotely triggered avalanches as soon as it was buried in December, and it didn’t go to sleep until March. Because of the sinister winter snowpack, we had an unprecedented stretch of CONSIDERABLE and HIGH danger that persisted for the majority of the season. Tragically, a snowmobiler was killed in the mountains near Smiley Creek at the tail end of the run of dangerous conditions.

While the snowpack was consistently bad, the SAC staff, the Friends of the SAC, and the community support was consistently stellar:

• Ethan, Chris, Ben, and our intern-volunteer Mitch delivered amazing informational products and made my job easy.

• The Friends of the SAC education program spread the Avalanche Awareness gospel like never before, and the Friends matched their previous levels of financial support despite the difficult, COVID-induced fund-raising environment.

• Local skiers and riders contributed way more observations than ever before—thank you!

I’d also like to extend a huge thanks to the Friends’ Board and Staff—Executive Director Steph Eisenbarth, Education Coordinator Stacey Ward, and Media Coordinator Amy David—for “kicking butt and taking names.” Additionally, thanks to all of the individuals, businesses, and agencies that help the avalanche center provide valuable public safety information. Because of your support, our avalanche center didn’t miss a beat during a pandemic. Happy adventures to all this spring and summer—be it on boards, sleds, dirt bikes, mountain bikes, kayaks, rafts, or whatever strikes your fancy.

Scott Savage - Sawtooth Avalanche Center Director