WHAT’S ON TAP

We’re entering the final stretch of our forecasting season, and with spring upon us, many people are thinking about warm weather activities. If you’re like us, you’re hoping for a few more days in the powder or corn before we hang up our boards or stow our sleds. With an eye on longer days and bigger objectives, we have a couple of ways for you to connect with the Avalanche Center and your fellow community of winter backcountry enthusiasts before we’re forced to admit that winter is over. We have 2 EVENTS on tap with RAFFLE PRIZES, and we’d love for you to join us!

ADVOCACY | LOLO NATIONAL FOREST PLAN REVISION

Avalanches and winter backcountry safety are inherently apolitical, so it’s not often we ask our users to advocate to government officials for our services. However, given the growing needs of our communities, we’re delighted to have an opportunity to do just that! The Lolo National Forest is revising their Forest Plan. Forest Plans are documents that lend guidance about land management activities. While we are not an organization that engages in land management activities, we can use this as an opportunity to let our local Forest Service officials know that we, backcountry recreationists, use the services provided by the avalanche center and would like to see those services supported and expanded!

The Forest Service has been a reliable partner and friend to the West Central Montana Avalanche Center! We would not be able to provide our products without their support! However, we want to do more! Our objective is to provide a full week forecast! And improve our product by offering more data through weather stations and mapping services! Getting there as a non-profit is a big lift, and the most straightforward path forward would be for the Forest Service to employ our Forecasters directly.

Please consider contacting the agency to make your voice heard! You can find a list of talking points by following this link: Click HERE.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

The Missoulian did a great story on the West Central Montana Avalanche Center, detailing our history and current situation. If you haven’t read it, you can find it here: Click HERE.

Also, the story of Marshall Mountain was featured in the 2023 Photo Annual of Backcountry Magazine (issue 148) and included a quote from our amazing Board Member, Kara Daume. Look for it at your local magazine stand or view it online! Click HERE

HELP US HELP YOU

Are you using the Avalanche Forecasts provided by the WCMAC? Have you taken an Avy 1 or 2 through us? Has your kids’ school participated in our free Know Before You Go educational events? We’re doing our best to keep you informed, but our forecasts are only as robust as our supporters. We dream of a day when we can provide you with an avalanche forecast every day of the winter! Please help us get there!! If you, or someone you love, plays in the backcountry, please consider donating to the West Central Montana Avalanche Center.