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 third season, Annie DeAngelo, the Education Coordinator for the Friends of the SAC, filled the calendar with free and low-cost avalanche education opportunities for the Wood River Valley and beyond. Friends ED Cody Richmond and Annie orchestrated general Avalanche Awareness outreach for schools and recreational groups, all while Annie enjoyed a large part of the winter abroad in the Alps. SAC forecasters handled professional-level training and specialty talks such as the Digging Deeper series. During the 2024-2025 winter season, this multi-pronged approach delivered 36 presentations to nearly 3,000 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 talks were held in Island Park, Caldwell, Idaho Falls, and Twin Falls. SAC forecasters and Friends of the SAC instructors reached over 760 riders this season.

Digging Deeper

The Digging Deeper discussion series returned for its seventh season, featuring five talks that were attended by nearly 170 people. These talks target intermediate to advanced backcountry users seeking to enhance their skills and knowledge in the backcountry. Topics included the Sun Valley Snow Safety program and “OB” skiing (with Graham Tyler and Kent May from Sun Valley Ski Patrol and Snow Safety); wet snow and mid-winter wet slabs (Zach Miller); backcountry avalanche rescue (Miles Canfield and David O’Donnell from Ketchum Fire Dept); wildfire and avalanche terrain (Scott Savage), and a riveting evening with Jon “JP” Preuss sharing lessons learned over his guiding and skiing career. The wildfire and avalanche terrain event was held at White Dog Brewing Company in downtown Boise, the first time we’ve taken the Digging Deeper series to the Treasure Valley. Motorized Outreach

5,000 14-15

Motorized Outreach

In Idaho, over 80% of recent backcountry avalanche fatalities involved snowmobilers or snowbikers. Facilitating motorized avalanche education remains a top priority for SAC. SAC forecasters and Friends of the SAC instructors reached over 760 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 staff and governing board, as well as a national-level motorized working group, to improve outreach to the motorized community.

Professional Education

SAC staff presented to professional groups on 10 occasions. Scott spoke about the effects of wildfire on avalanche terrain at a regional seminar in Colorado and during the pre-season training of Sun Valley Ski Patrol and Sun Valley Heli Ski. He joined Norwegian and Canadian researchers to discuss decision-making during a podcast at ISSW in Norway. Ethan organized and chaired an East Idaho avalanche educators meeting in Island Park. Ethan and Scott teamed up to train FS forecasters, speak at the Idaho State Snowmobile Association (ISSA) general meeting, and present at the Local Emergency Planning Committee meeting. SAC staff ended the season with their annual Professional Development Seminar in Hailey, featuring a talk on wet snow avalanches by Zach Miller.

With Scott Savage, Andrea Mannberg, and Eeva Latosuo.