WCMAC forecasters are in the field analyzing how recent storm snow is gaining strength, tracking where the wind is drifting snow and keeping a close eye on buried persistent weak layers. This Thursday 1/10/19 from 6 – 8 PM at Big Sky Brewing, they will return from a day in...
Unfortunately, we just received word that an avalanche fatality occurred yesterday outside of Choteau. Preliminary information is that the individual was in a snowmobile group and not wearing an avalanche transceiver. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims family and friends. Flathead Avalanche Center staff will be...
Looking to become more familiar with avalanche awareness information or brush up on key safety points before heading into the backcountry? Check out the new Know Before You Go (KBYG) e-learning program from the Utah Avalanche Center. This free interactive learning platform is designed for anyone who wants to learn more about...
We are excited to partner with the Mountain Riding Lab again this year to provide high-quality motorized level 1 courses designed specifically for snowmobilers and snow bikers. These courses focus on developing a solid foundation in avalanche knowledge and how it applies it to mountain riding. Grab your riding...
Time to mark your calendar for Missoula Avalanche’s 12th Annual Pray For Snow Party! This big bash benefits West Central Montana Avalanche Center (WCMAC) public avalanche awareness information and education opportunities. Festivities will include live music, local food vendors, Big Sky Brewing beverages, awesome raffle prizes, fun and more! With an increasing number...
Backcountry Magazine | Press Release: ORTOVOX ISSUES RECALL OF 3+ AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVERS RUNNING SOFTWARE VERSION 2.1
Each US Avalanche Center is supported by an affiliated nonprofit entity, or friends group. In essence, the center provides the structure and technical know-how and the non-profit entity engages in fundraising and outreach. Nationwide, more than 50% of avalanche center operational costs are covered by community donations and other...
🗓 | Today! Event: Missoula Gives Date: May 4th Time: Now – 10 PM MST Location: Join us from anywhere and everywhere through our online giving platform: WCMAF | Missoula Gives Missoula Gives provides a great opportunity to give where you live and support the avalanche center services you rely on. Giving goal...
Education | Fundraising | General | Snowpack | Weather
Avalanche forecasters play a critical role in protecting the public and raising avalanche awareness by communicating the potential for avalanches to cause harm or injury to backcountry travelers. West Central Montana Avalanche Center (WCMAC) forecasters work to keep you informed of the danger avalanches pose by gathering as much information as possible from...
Generating backcountry travel plans without avalanche center forecast information requires knowledge of weather events. Review snotel data for current snow totals and weather station data for temperatures, wind trends, and speeds. With these tools, you can get an idea of the avalanche problems you could encounter on your trip and choose appropriate terrain...
Education | Fundraising | Snowpack | Weather
This Thursday evening, February 22nd from 6-8 pm, Big Sky Brewing will be hosting our Beers With Your Avalanche Forecaster finale! In an ongoing effort to help us make the Montana backcountry a safer place, Big Sky Brewing is donating event proceeds to the West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation....
Grab your riding buddies and get trained! Spots still available for the upcoming Mechanized Snowmachine | Avalanche Level 1 Course Dates: 2.23.18 – 2.25.18 Register Now & Secure Your Spot! Details & Registration | Link
The course is taught from a mechanized snowmachine perspective by certified avalanche instructors with 20+ years of mountain riding experience and excellent avalanche education skills. The course is designed for recreational riders, guides, and search and rescue teams. Participants will focus on how to avoid being caught in avalanche situations...
Many avalanche victims don’t know they are in avalanche danger and are unprepared to deal with an avalanche. This doesn’t have to happen – the danger signs are usually obvious to those who know what to look for. Just as those in Hawaii learn about the dangers of rip...
We are excited to offer new avalanche education offerings developed specifically for snowmobilers and mechanized mountain riders. These courses are taught from a mechanized perspective by certified avalanche instructors with 20+ years of mountain riding experience and excellent avalanche education skills. These courses are designed for recreational riders, guides, and...
The week started out simply enough, a scattered inch here and there before dramatically shifting mid-week. Wednesday brought a foot of snow to the Seeley Lake area and inch and a half of water. The northern half of the advisory area got the most snow and water from the...
This weeks weather is easier to summarized than the last two weeks. There were no storms bringing feet of snow, just the occasional inch or two here and there. It may come as a surprise considering the lack of any major weather events but this week was marked by...
Has it been a while since you took your Level 1 Avalanche Course? The Level 1 Refresher Course is a great opportunity for refining your skills and catching up on best practices for decision making in avalanche terrain. Check out the upcoming Level 1 Refresher Course while spots are...
The second week of advisories are in the books and boy was it a doozie. The week started cold and relatively calm. Over the Christmas Holiday snow slowly started to accumulate as 3-6 inches of snow accumulated monday and again on Tuesday. Snows tapered slightly Wednesday before picking up...
Education | Fundraising | General | Mechanized | Snowpack | Weather
It’s winter in western Montana and we’re headed into the backcountry. In an effort to make Montana’s winter playground a safer place, Big Sky Brewing is hosting Beers With Your Forecaster. This event is a great opportunity to gain insight on current snow conditions and learn about what goes into generating...
The first week of advisories are in the books and there was a ton of information presented in a variety of forms. If you felt overwhelmed last week rest assured you are not alone. We would like to take this time to explain the different methods that we use...
As part of its mission to serve the community year-round, the Missoula County Fairgrounds and Glacier Ice Rink will host the first annual Western Montana Winter Fair, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 1 to 6 pm on December 16 and 17, 2017. This new event...
In conjunction with UM Campus Recreation, the West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation is hosting a free two-part Mountain Weather lecture series. Featuring guest speaker, LeeAnn Allegretto, NOAA Meteorologist and Avalanche Program Leader from the National Weather Service. Both sections are open to the public and will be held in the...
Education | General | Mechanized | Snowpack | Weather
Courses are filling fast! Check out Registration/Details
AVALANCHE AWARENESS LECTURE – Tonight! Time: 6pm Location: North Underground Lecture Hall 101, UM Campus Cost: FREE Join Josh Tapp, Avalanche Education Coordinator from the West Central Montana Avalanche Center for an introduction to avalanche awareness and safety. The presentation will include video, slides, discussion and Q&A session. Topics covered will...
Here is a great article on the Black Diamond Site that talks about the uses of snow pack tests to see how sensitive a persistent weak layer is. Here is the link We are having a free Avalanche Awareness Class Tonight 600 pm at North Underground Urey Lecture Hall...
The American Avalanche Association is currently updating the standards of education in the U.S. The new changes are going into effect for the 17/18 season. Some of the key changes are the division of professional and recreational tracks for level 1 and level 2 classes. If you are a...
The West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation would like to reiterate its sincere thanks to Gull Boats & RV for their continued support of avalanche safety, awareness and education. With over 400 in attendance, Mike Duffy delivered an outstanding snowmobile avalanche awareness and skills introduction. We are excited to have Mike back...
Missoula Avalanche presents the 12th Annual Pray For Snow Party!! Join your friends on Friday October 5th from 5:30pm – 10:30pm at Caras Park in downtown Missoula to Celebrate the upcoming frosty time of year! This year’s fundraiser brings great music from Jameson and the Sorrid Seeds, 2 giant...
Yesterday, two skiers were caught in an avalanche near Stonewall Mountain by Lincoln, Montana outside of our advisory area. One skier was partially buried while the other was caught in the trees. Lewis and Clark SAR were called and assisted with the rescue. We will update with more information...
We have had two public observations of wind slabs in the Bitterroot. Take a look before you head out. Remember identify wind slabs and avoid them. These slabs are on many different aspects, and some slopes are cross-loaded due to the changes in wind direction over the last couple...
In conjunction with U of M Campus Recreation we will be hosting a free Mountain Weather Class. Featuring guest speaker, LeeAnne Allegretto, Meteorologist and Avalanche Program Leader from The National Weather Service. The class will be in the North Urey Underground Lecture Hall from 600pm -800pm Part 1 on January 12...
Winter Weather Update: Large snow totals predicted. As this system enters our area we will update the advisory as needed.
The West Central Montana Avalanche Center (WCMAC) has announced the following staff changes for the upcoming 2016-2017 winter avalanche season. Travis Craft, has assumed leadership responsibilities for the center. Steve Karkanen, director of the center since 2006, retired at the end of the 2015-2016 season. Karkanen, an avalanche specialist...
The 10th Annual Pray for Snow Party will be taking place at Caras Park on Friday, October 21st from 5:30-10:30. Come listen to the sweet sounds of Caroline Keys and the Lane Splitters and then the Come listen to the sweet sounds of Caroline Keys and the Lane Splitters and...
Skip Horner has guided worldwide adventures for more than 40 years, including scaling the highest mountain on every continent, rafting over a dozen wild rivers on five continents,and skiing the highest peaks in the Arctic and the Antarctic. The Rimo 1 expedition was a multi-national expedition into India’s remote...
Avanet is a new online platform that allows people to record and share mountain safety observations in real time. Currently you can sign up for free as a recreational user and have access to all of the mapping, route planning and observation tools that it offers. You can sign...
In the past week, 4 individuals have died in avalanches in CO, WY, UT and here in MT bringing the season total to 10 as of January 23. The accident in SW MT Tuesday hits close to home as it involved an avalanche professional. Darren Johnson, a professional ski...
