On winter mornings, the Forest Service Avalanche Center for the Sierra publishes the avalanche forecast for the day. This is useful information for anyone traveling in the backcountry.
Often a draft of the forecast is started the afternoon before after a day of skiing. It may be updated early in the morning with the benefit of that day’s weather forecast and any late arriving snow or avalanche observations. The snow and avalanche data is built on observations from Sierra Avalanche Center field staff who spend their days skiing. It is augmented with observations, photos and videos shared to the Sierra Avalanche Center website by the public.
The Forest Service Avalanche Center would not exist without community donations, despite being a government operation. Northstar, Heavenly, and Kirkwood have consistently directed significant support to the Sierra Avalanche Center through their donation of lift tickets to the Forest Service.
Northstar, Heavenly, and Kirkwood resorts have been the avalanche center’s largest business supporters for multiple years. This money goes back into supporting the Avalanche Center field staff, paying for skiing and observing, equipment, the website, and our ongoing efforts to increase avalanche awareness by promoting the center.
The Sierra Avalanche Center staff and volunteer board thanks to Northstar, Heavenly, Kirkwood and the Vail Resorts EpicPromise Team for their continued support.
(*) It should be noted that these large ski operations depend on Forest Service permits for their use of public lands.
