2023-24 Annual Report

2023

-24 Annual Report

Acknowledgments

following individuals were regular contributors and/or field partners: Ed Binnie, Wyatt Caldwell, Amy David, Olin Glenne, Ryan Guess, Josh Johnson, Nicole Jorgenson, Pierce Klinke, Jeremy Lato, Hannah Marshall, Brian Mayfield, Victoria Rossin, Sam Solie, Hannes Thum, Kristian Whittaker, and Desireè Wickwar.

Join us in thanking our 2023-2024 Observers of the Year: Brian Mayfield and Desireè Wickwar. Desireè and Brian submitted numerous timely, high-quality observations, greatly enhancing the quality of our forecasts. Thank you!

A huge “thanks!” goes to Ski-Doo, who, in conjunction with Action Cycles ‘N Sleds in Twin Falls, once again loaned us a top-of-the-line Summit Expert 850 snowmobile. We were thrilled to have a Ski-Doo in our sled fleet for a fourth season.

We’d like to thank Justin Blackstead, Tyler English, Matt Filbert, Steve Frost, Susan James, Kent May, Zach Poff, and Jenn Stevens. These USFS staff went above and beyond the call of duty to support the Avalanche Center.

Local ski guides and snow safety workers contributed 278 observations to our professional observations database. These reports are vital in ensuring the most accurate forecast possible. We are indebted to the guides at Sawtooth Mountain Guides, Soldier Mountain Cat Skiing, Sun Valley Guides, Sun Valley Heli Ski, and Sun Valley Huts, as well as the ski patrols at Sun Valley and Soldier Mountain.

Last but far from least: we receive a significant portion of our operating revenue from the Friends of the SAC. This group of amazing, dedicated volunteers and their staff raise money through sponsorships, donations, and events in addition to producing dozens of free or low-cost basic avalanche education events.

The Avalanche Center would not exist in its current state without the community’s financial support of the Friends Thank You! Learn how you can get involved.

From the Forecasters

The tragic loss of our friend, colleague, and pillar of the community on May 10th made writing this Annual Report feel trivial. Directly or indirectly, Terry influenced all of us and is greatly missed.

While we ended the season with a pretty normal snowpack by precipitation standards, it sure wasn’t a normal winter. The avalanche danger never dropped to widespread LOW in the Galena Summit zone, a first. We went 47 straight days with HIGH or CONSIDERABLE danger, a first. And we had 23 days with HIGH danger, likely a first.

We extend a huge thank you to the Friends of the SAC’s staff and board, to the professional operations we rely on so heavily for their observations, to the public volunteers and observers who improve our forecast products by submitting observations, and to the entire Sawtooth NF team. Every winter reminds us how much our team relies on our amazing colleagues, community, and partners.

Enjoy your spring and summer turns and adventures, whether they involve snow, water, dirt, sand, or rock.

Sincerely, Ben,Brooke,Ethan,andScott

The Sawtooth Avalanche Center Forecasting Team

Photo: B. Maushund

Scott Savage—Avalanche Center Director

Scott has been the SAC Director since 2014. He worked as a Ski Patroller, Avalanche Forecaster, and Snow Safety Director at Big Sky Resort before joining the SAC program in 2012. Scott has presented at many international avalanche conferences and regional professional seminars and is a regular contributor to The Avalanche Review. Scott is a National Avalanche School instructor, President of the American Avalanche Association, and President of Avalanche Worker Safety. He likes to spend his free time playing on snow, dirt, rivers, and rocks and listening to geeky podcasts. Scott considers each day that he learns more than he forgets to be a success.

Ethan Davis—Lead Forecaster

Ethan began work with the Sawtooth Avalanche Center in 2015. He attended the University of Idaho, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Geography and a minor in Mathematics. Following an interest in winter storms he earned his Master’s degree in Meteorology from Pennsylvania State University. After three years in a dark lab growing ice crystals, Ethan returned to the light as an avalanche forecaster in Alaska and Colorado before making his way home to Idaho. When not in the snow, you can find him exploring rivers, trails, and mountains with his wife and two young boys.

The Sawtooth Avalanche Center employed four full-time, seasonal employees during the

• Avalanche Center Director: Permanent Seasonal Position

• Lead Forecaster – Avalanche Specialist: Permanent Seasonal Position

Ben VandenBos—Forecaster

After a youthful dalliance with the world of riding lifts at Bridger Bowl, Ben opened his eyes and embraced the rest of the mountains that surrounded his hometown of Bozeman, Montana. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Geology at the University of Montana in Missoula, where he also developed the masochism required for long approaches to questionable skiing and climbing while exploring the Bitterroot Range. In the following years, season work as a geologist, Ben focused on the study of mountains and snow. When he’s not searching out first descents, he reads, picks up rocks, skis, climbs, and drinks a whole lot of coffee. If you see him, be prepared to discuss anything from stellar dendrites to the Paleogene trans-Challis dike swarm.

Brooke Maushund—Forecaster

Harnessing her lifelong love of unnecessary and prolonged physical suffering in beautiful settings, Brooke used her B.S. in Resource Science from UC Berkeley to work on off-grid renewable energy projects in Tanzania and Eastern Nicaragua before moving to Yosemite in her early 20s. Determined to find a better ‘work vs. climbing/skiing’ balance, she pivoted to a job as a weather station technician with the Park Service and soon set her sights on avalanche forecasting. Her path to get there included working as a ski patroller, ski guide, avalanche instructor, snow surveyor, and professional observer for operations in CA and WA. Cutting her teeth toiling away on El Capitan and sliding down remote hallways in the High Sierra, Brooke has a knack for hard work in less-than-ideal conditions — laughing through any mishaps along the way. She spent the summer months managing risk as a member of Yosemite Valley Search and Rescue, on a Denali rescue patrol, and, most recently, as a climbing ranger on Mt. Rainier.

• Forecaster – Avalanche Specialist: Seasonal Position the winter season:

• Forecaster – Avalanche Specialist: Seasonal Position

Operations

This season brought several new faces. Brooke Maushund joined the crew as a freshman forecaster. Scott Savage, Ethan Davis, and Ben VandenBos returned to complete the forecasting team. Hannah Marshall took the reins as the Friends of the SAC’s Executive Director. Finally, Zach Poff took over for longtime local legend Kurt Nelson as the District Ranger for the Sawtooth National Forest’s Ketchum Ranger District. Zach supervises the avalanche center and is a huge supporter of the program.

We spent the fall attending the International Snow Science Workshop (ISSW) in Bend, Oregon (and recovering from COVID), wrapping up website changes, maintaining weather stations, attending and presenting at regional snow and avalanche workshops, preparing education materials, dialing in the snowmobiles, and installing the beacon park.

We issued our first General Avalanche Information product on October 27th. Daily Avalanche Forecasts started on December 6th and continued through April 14th. We issued our final General Avalanche Information product of the season on May 6th. In total, we produced 131 Avalanche Forecasts and 15 General Avalanche Information updates.

Once the winter gets rolling, we aim to have at least one forecaster in the field every day of the week.

Despite a slow start to the snow year we received 301 public observations, tied for second most in SAC history thank you! Local ski guides, snow safety workers, and USFS staff contributed 278 observations to our professional observations database. These reports are vital in ensuring the most accurate forecast possible. All told, we logged over 800 observations this season.

In addition to field and office time to produce the forecasts, SAC staff produced a variety of print and social media content, were frequently interviewed by NPR and local television reporters, taught avalanche education programs, maintained and repaired weather stations, and plugged away on local and nationallevel projects with over 60 partner organizations.

The mission of the Sawtooth Avalanche Center is to provide avalanche safety information for people recreating, working, traveling, or living in south-central Idaho.

Dr. Terry O’Connor tragically passed away in an avalanche in the Lost River Range, Idaho, on May 10, 2024.

Terry was equal parts kindness, brilliance, and perseverance. His infectious smile is familiar to all of us in his extensive, blended professional and social circles that spanned states, countries, and continents.

In Memory

His broad professional background included work as a ski patroller in Lake Tahoe, an NPS climbing ranger, a professional rescuer, an emergency medicine physician, a medical school faculty member, a climate and health researcher, an EMS coordinator, and a program builder. His ability to apply his diverse experiences and knowledge to address and solve complex problems was truly a unique gift.

Terry brought humility, skill, and passion to everything he did, whether he was working in the field with fellow avalanche professionals, tending to patients in Nepal, or running through the Alps. Whether you had known him for one day or twenty years, Terry felt like a good friend.

Our condolences go out to all of Terry’s family, friends, and colleagues in the avalanche community and beyond. Terry will be deeply missed.

A

triggered avalanche

remote

in the E. Fork of the Big Wood.

Photo: B. VandenBos

Season Review

By early November, a series of fall storms brought enough snow to the mountains to get us excited about winter, and we issued our first General Avalanche Information product on November 10th. Unfortunately, the early-season snow was a teaser, leading to a November drought that formed the first of several troublesome weak layers.

We issued our first daily Avalanche Forecast of the season on December 6th, highlighting a Persistent Slab avalanche problem that would not go away. In the Galena Summit zone, Persistent Slab was listed as a problem for 121 straight days, until April 4th.

December’s weather had Wood River Valley residents wondering when to put away their bikes and hiking boots. A series of early January storms answered that question, allowing us to begin forecasts for that zone on Jan 6th and prompting AVALANCHE WARNINGS and WATCHES on Jan 9th12th. All told, we issued WARNINGS on 11 days, eclipsing the epic 2022-23 season total of 8.

January’s weather, and resulting avalanches, were something to behold:

 People remotely triggered large avalanches from hundreds and thousands of feet away on five straight days

 Four AVALANCHE WARNINGS were issued

 >120 mph winds blew over the Upper Soldier weather station and snapped old-growth trees in several zones

 Sunshine and heat drove natural wet slab avalanching at the end of the month a mid-winter rarity

Most of February saw a pattern of frequent storms followed by weaklayer-forming dry spells. This caused numerous natural and triggered avalanches and kept the danger at CONSIDERABLE or HIGH. The Galena Summit zone was rated CONSIDERABLE or HIGH from Jan 9-Feb 23, 47 straight days.

March began with WARNINGS on the 1st and 2nd, completing an impressive 8-week stretch with WARNINGS in 6 of 8 weeks. Spring weather began to take hold in the 2nd half of March and lasted until we issued our final daily forecast on April 14th.

67 significant human-triggered avalanches were observed or reported this season. Of those 67 avalanches:

 40 were large enough to bury, injure, or kill a person

 38 were remotely triggered

 One slide caught, carried, and partially buried a skier

 Zero occurred in the Banner Summit zone

URBAN IMPACTS

 A large avalanche blocked HWY75 overnight on January 17th near Galena Summit. The road remained closed for most of the following day.

 High rain lines and a dry start for the Wood River Valley led to no homes, vehicles, or structures being impacted by avalanches. In fact, we never reached HIGH danger at low elevation in any zone, all season likely a first.

Jan 12th, 2024 - The Upper Soldier weather station was toppled by wind gusts exceeding 120 mph!

Photos from Top: SVSP, T. Haskins, B. Maushund, SAC, B. VandenBos

Accomplishments

 Our Forecasts received over 458,000 views via the web and email subscriptions.

 We received 301 observations from the public, the second most in SAC history! Thank you for this massive community effort!

 SAC forecasters gave 18 interviews to local, regional, and national media outlets.

 We produced 58 videos that were watched over 237,000 times this year!

 Four Digging Deeper talks reached a live audience of 158 people.

 SAC and the Friends of the SAC gave 60 educational presentations to recreational and professional audiences. Our educational programs reached over 2,500 individuals this season, including over 680 motorized users.

 The sixth annual Homegrown Film Festival was held on December 1st. This amazing event brings the community together to stoke the early-winter fire in support of the Friends of the SAC. Thanks to Spencer Cordovano and the Homegrown crew!

 Volunteers worked over 500 hours on Friends of the SAC fundraising events and over 5,000 hours collecting and submitting field observations.

 Scott and Ethan presented at the Wyoming Snow Avalanche Workshop (WYSAW) in Jackson Hole, WY. Scott’s talk “The Effects of Wildfire on Avalanche Terrain” examined how the 2022 Ross Fork fire fundamentally changed avalanche release and runout zones. His presentation focused on how these findings impact recreational users. Ethan’s talk “East Idaho Avalanche Impacts” outlined patterns in avalanche accidents across Eastern Idaho and the steps avalanche centers are taking to address the issue. Scott and Ethan also gave talks to a professional audience recapping the International Snow Science Workshop (ISSW), and Ethan was a member of a public panel discussing motorized use and outreach.

Photo: B. VandenBos

 ISSW 2023: Ben and Scott co-authored “The Effects of Wildfire on Avalanche Terrain”, Ben co-authored a paper analyzing likelihood communication in avalanche forecasts, and Scott co-authored a paper examining ski area avalanche fatalities. Scott served as one of four members of the Science Program Committee, organizing the week-long, bi-annual international conference.

 Scott and Ethan worked with avalanche center staff from around the country to develop and teach a backcountry avalanche forecaster training class. The day included talks ranging from the basics of the avalanche forecast platform to our relationship with the National Weather Service (NWS). Breakout sessions allowed small groups to work through various avalanche forecasting scenarios. A first of its kind, the class was attended by over 60 students.

 ISSW 2024: Scott worked with Norwegian and Canadian avalanche professionals to help “pass the ISSW baton.” The next ISSW will take place in Tromsø, Norway, this September, followed by ISSW 2026 in Whistler, BC.

 National Website Project: Scott represented the SAC during the early planning stages of a collaborative, next-generation website. The FS National Avalanche Center (NAC), the Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC), and the Sierra Avalanche Center (another SAC) are joining forces to develop a common website with a tentative fall 2025 launch date. We expect many other avalanche centers to use the platform in the future. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting project!

 SAC staff sat down with Don Sharaf from Dave Hamre and Associates (DHA) to share information on our urban avalanche history and local snowpack characteristics. SAC’s historical knowledge, avalanche database, observation database, past forecasts, and annual reports will help DHA with their urban avalanche analysis which will include a map and avalanche occurrence database. Don and DHA were commissioned by the City of Ketchum and Blaine County to analyze the local urban avalanche problem and present possibilities to manage the risk to people, vehicles, and structures.

 E. Idaho Working Group: The SAC, in conjunction with the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center, the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center, the Utah Avalanche Center, and the FS National Avalanche Center, formed a working group with the aim of reducing backcountry avalanche accidents in Eastern Idaho. Since 2010, 11 people have died in avalanches in Eastern Idaho’s backcountry. Ninety-one percent of those who died were riding snowmobiles or snowbikes. Eighty-six percent of recent accident victims had insufficient or missing rescue gear. The working group hopes to improve the quality, spatial coverage, and accessibility of avalanche information, expand free and low-cost avalanche education, and foster vital partnerships with public and private entities across Eastern Idaho. This summer, Ethan will work to compile a report describing avalanche education resources in the region in an effort to inform improved motorized avalanche education offerings.

Social Media

Social media plays a crucial role in communicating avalanche conditions and social event information:

• We posted 58 videos this season. This frequent, concise content received nearly 238,000 views!

• We posted the daily avalanche information to Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

• The SAC’s social media audience increased by over 1,000 followers in the past year. Instagram was our fastest-growing channel, adding 679 followers.

• Thanks to the generous support of KECH 95.3 FM, we aired 89 weekday morning Avalanche Forecasts. Broadcast during the morning commute, these radio spots featured avalanche and weather information and conveyed safety messaging during periods of elevated avalanche danger.

10,804 8,057 1,072 656 followers

Bernie Kingery Award

Janet Kellam was honored with the American Avalanche Association’s (A3) highest distinction for field professionals, the Bernie Kingery Award, at the A3 Annual Member Meeting in October. Notably, Janet is the first woman to receive this award. The Sawtooth Avalanche Center would not be where it is today without Janet’s passion and dedication. Thank you, Janet! Below is an excerpt from A3’s announcement:

Before Janet’s avalanche forecasting career, she was a competitive Nordic ski racer at Middlebury College turned impassioned backcountry skier, and soon after, long-time ski guide in Idaho. In 1996 Janet was recruited by Doug Abromeit and hired as a forecaster with the newly formed Sawtooth Avalanche Center.

Janet’s leadership and dedication turned the fledgling into a leader among US forecast centers. She tackled a unique urban avalanche problem, building relationships with local emergency services and creating a bi-lingual avalanche safety flier for maintenance workers who often work outside threatened homes. Near the end of her forecasting career in 2010, Janet was selected to lead A3. With her collaborative nature, she aided in the pro-rec education split and was instrumental in bringing avalanche.org under the A3 umbrella. Both are historic contributions.

Janet’s skills, accomplishments, and dedication to her profession inspired many women in the avalanche field. She was the first woman licensed ski guide in Idaho, the first woman president of A3, and the first woman director of an avalanche center.

PROPSCORNER

"I hope that your season has offered enough time to stroll around and appreciate life. I know you are super busy, but the rewards of doing good work can lead to that. Know that the work you do is appreciated by many. Including me. Thanks for a season of great forecasts. We have enjoyed yet another wonderful winter.“ - Rick Barker

Education

Avalanche education is a vital component of the SAC and Friends’ shared mission to provide avalanche safety information for people recreating, working, traveling, or living in south-central Idaho.

In her second season, Annie DeAngelo, the Education Coordinator for the Friends of the SAC, continued to amaze, filling the calendar with free and low-cost avalanche education opportunities for the Wood River Valley and beyond. Annie orchestrated general Avalanche Awareness outreach for schools and recreational groups. SAC forecasters handled professional-level training and specialty talks like the Digging Deeper series. During the 2023-2024 winter season, this multi-pronged approach delivered 60 presentations to over 2,500 people.

The SAC and Friends of the SAC continued their emphasis on motorized user outreach and education by providing avalanche education opportunities to motorized users throughout southern Idaho. Motorized-specific classes were held in Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, Gooding, and Hailey/Bellevue. SAC forecasters and Friends of the SAC instructors reached nearly 700 riders this season.

SAC staff presented to professional groups on 14 occasions. Scott presented recent research on ski area avalanche fatalities, snowpits, and stability tests at Big Sky and Sun Valley Ski Patrol Training and to local guides. Ethan presented to the Caribou-Targhee supervisor’s office, at the National Avalanche Center general meeting, and at the Local Emergency Planning Committee meeting. Scott and Ethan also teamed up to train FS forecasters, speak at the Idaho State Snowmobile Association (ISSA) general meeting, and present to a professional audience at the Wyoming Snow Avalanche Workshop (WYSAW). SAC staff ended the season with their annual Professional Development Seminar in Hailey.

The Digging Deeper discussion series returned for its sixth season, featuring four talks that reached nearly 160 people. These talks targeted intermediate to advanced backcountry users looking to add tricks and knowledge to their playbooks. Topics included accidents in the Baldy out-of-

Students 3,000 2,000 1,000 4,000 5,000

Over

bounds terrain, snowpits and stability tests, wildfire and avalanche terrain, and a 20222023 avalanche season recap.

Motorized Outreach

In Idaho, 17 of the last 20 backcountry avalanche fatalities were snowmobilers or snowbikers. Facilitating motorized avalanche education remains a top SAC priority. SAC forecasters and Friends of the SAC instructors reached nearly 700 motorized users this season through Motorized Avalanche Awareness talks, snowmobile club meetings, the Idaho State Snowmobile Association conference, and the Avy Savvy event in Idaho Falls. This summer, Scott will continue to work with the American Avalanche Association’s education staff to form a national-level motorized education working group and refine basic motorized avalanche education standards.

Photo: B. VandenBos

Funding & Partnerships

The SAC relies on a variety of partnerships and collaborative relationships. Most of the Center Service and BLM. The Sawtooth NF and BLM continued support shows their commitment to public safety. The Ketchum Ranger District also provides extensive office and administrative support and maintenance facilities.

The Friends of the Sawtooth Avalanche Center (501c3) are the critical private partner in our mission; the center would not exist without their efforts and support. The Friends are the conduit for both local and out of-area individuals and businesses to support the SAC and Friends common mission of providing actionable avalanche information and education to people recreating, working, traveling, or living in south central Idaho. The Friends’ contribution covers salaries for approximately 2 of the 4 forecasting positions. In addition, they provide snowmobiles, funds for website and IT operations and improvements, safety and field equipment, weather stations, educational supplies, forecaster training, etc..

The Friends revamped their sponsorship and donation programs this year and launched a new, modern website. Visit friends.sawtoothavalanche.com/ to learn more about the organization and how you can support their mission.

Local guiding operations Sun Valley Heli-Ski, Sawtooth Mountain Guides, Sun Valley Guides and the National Weather Service’s Pocatello office are also major avalanche center partners; their “inkind” support is key to our success.

In total, the avalanche center has over 70 active partnerships with international, national, state, county, city, and local organizations and entities.

The SAC is a glowing example of a successful public-private partnership. The Friends of the SAC raise funds through sponsorship, private donations, grants, and fundraising events.

The Friends’ success is indicative of incredible community buyin and support of the Avalanche Center’s mission.

Friends of SAC: $73,800 (22.36%) Forest Service: $223,100 (67.59%)

Idaho State Snowmobile Association: $15,200 (4.60%)

Sawtooth NF Admin + Vehicles: $12,000 (3.64%)

Bureau of Land Management:

$6,000 (1.82%)

EXPENSES: $330,100.00

Next Season’s Goals

• Continue work on motorized avalanche education and outreach. In Idaho, 17 of the last 20 backcountry avalanche fatalities were snowmobilers or snowbikers.

• Continue working with FS National Avalanche Center staff on multiple national and regional level projects, including website and IT tools, avalanche information and education in E. Idaho, an improved forecaster training program, operational safety advancements, and Avalanche Watch and Avalanche Warning products.

• National Website Project: Continue work on a collaborative, nextgeneration website to promote quality, consistency, and cost savings. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting project!

• Work with Bruce Jamieson and US avalanche professionals on a video and podcast examining the risks facing avalanche professionals.

• Contribute to and attend the 2024 International Snow Science Workshop in Tromsø, Norway.

• Use recent communication research to refine SAC web products and forecaster guidance to make our avalanche and mountain weather forecasts as easy to digest, understand, and implement as possible.

• Facilitate a “forecaster exchange” with the ski patrol and snow safety departments at Big Sky Resort to foster our team’s professional development.

• Work with the Friends of the SAC to increase local Avalanche Awareness offerings for the Spanish-speaking community.

• Continue work on ongoing technology transfer and research projects to benefit both avalanche professionals and recreational users, including a study of mid-winter wet slab avalanches.

• Work on our riding skills—we’re improving, but no one wonders if we are pro riders!

Photo: B. VandenBos

$6,000+

$4,000 - $5,999

$2,500 - $3,999

$1,000 - $2,499

$500 - $999

Professional/Agency Partners

Significant Additional Support

Michael Boge and Mountain Fever