P O B O X 2 3 5 6 – 2 0 6 S u n V a l l e y R d K e t c h u m , I D 8 3 3 4 0 ( 2 0 8 ) 6 2 2 - 0 0 9 5 i n f o @ s a w t o o t h a v a l a n c h e . c o m w w w . s a w t o o t h a v a l a n c h e . c o m C o v e r P h o t o : V a n d e n B o s

2017-2018AnnualReport

TableofContentsAcknowledgementsAdvisory/HomepageSponsorsProfessional/AgencySponsorsAdditionalSupportFromtheDirectorSeasonHighlightsStaffAccomplishmentsWebsite&AdvisoryUseMedia&OutreachOperationsEducationProgramsFunding&PartnershipsSnowpackSummaryNextSeason’sGoals

AcknowledgementsTheAvalancheCentercouldnotoperateinitscurrentcapacitywithoutthegeneroussupportofourcommunity.Thankstoallthekindsoulswhoaccompaniedusinthefield and/or provided us with critical information about what they were seeingduring their rides or tours. The following individuals were regular contributorsand/or field partners: TerryO’Connor, Peter Carse, EdBinnie, JeremyLato, BradHatch,andSamLinnet.We’d like toextenda special thanks toKurtNelson,ZachPoff, Susan James,SteveFrost,SarahStalker,andGregStuart.TheseUSFSstaffwentaboveandbeyondthecallofdutytosupporttheavalanchecenter.WereceiveabouthalfofouroperatingrevenuefromtheFriendsoftheSAC.Thisgroupofamazing,dedicatedvolunteersraisesmoneythroughsponsorships,donations,andevents. Advisory/HomepageSponsors

Professional/AgencyPartners

AdditionalSupport

FromtheDirectorThemissionoftheSawtoothAvalancheCenteristoprovideactionableweatherandavalanche information and education to people recreating, working, and/ortravelling in the mountains of south central Idaho. The Friends launched anexpandedAvalancheAwarenesseducationeffortthisyear,spreadingtheavalanchegospeltomorelocalstudentsthaneverbefore.We’llalsorememberthisyearforthegoodmountainbikingconditionsthroughearlyFebruaryinthesouthValley–ugh-and the big storms and impressive avalanche cycles that followed in March andApril.Duetoastaffmember’sDecemberinjuryandsurgicalrepair,wejuggledourresponsibilities.Ethan,Matt,andourstellarForecastingInternBennotonlykeptupwith theworkload…they excelled. A huge thanks to them, and the Friends’ Boardand Staff, for “kicking butt and taking names.” I’d also like to thank all of theindividuals, businesses, and agencies that help the avalanche center providevaluable public safety information. The SAC wouldn’t be what it is without theamazingcommunitysupportwereceive.Happyturnstoallthisspringandsummer–beitonboards,sleds,dirtbikes,mountainbikes,kayaks,orwhateverstrikesyourfancy.Sincerely,ScottSavageDirector,SawtoothAvalancheCenter

• OurfirstGeneralSnowandWeatherInformationproductwasissuedonOctober23rd.DailyAvalancheAdvisories startedearlyonNovember30th andcontinuedthrough April 15th. In total, we produced 138 Daily Avalanche Advisories thiswinter (the most in SAC history) in addition to 9 General Snow andWeatherInformationupdates.

• We issued 3 Avalanche Warnings and 12 days of HIGH avalanche danger(comparedto9Warningsand22daysofHIGHdangerlastyear).

• Therewerenofatalitieswithintheadvisoryareaforthe4thyearinarow–knockonwood!Although two snowmobilers, one skier, andone carwere caught andpartiallyorfullyburiedinavalanches,noonewasseriouslyinjured.

SeasonHighlights

AnaturalwindslabavalancheremovedtheuniquewindtexturingseeninthisphototakenintheEagleCreekDrainagenorthofKetchum.

• DailyAvalancheAdvisoriesbeganonNovember30th– theearlieststart inSAChistory.Oncue,weentereda longhigh-pressureinduceddrought.LowerTitusweatherstationrecordedjust3”ofsnowfromDecember4ththroughDecember18th.

• Awidespreadwet slabavalanchecycleoccurredonMarch23rdas3-day snow

waterequivalenttotalsreachednearly3”infavoredlocations.Notablewetslabavalanches would also occur in April in the Warm Springs and Deer Creekdrainages, on Cobb Peak in the Pioneer Mountains, on Williams Peak in theSawtooths,andintheBouldersnearGalenaSummit.

• Ofour165days in the field,weusedskis76%of the time,snowmobiles19%,

and hiked or used binoculars from the highway 15% of the time (some dayswere“combo”days,sothetotalisover100%).

• Local professional groups contributed over 300 observations, and the public

sentusnearly150observations–thanks!Theseobservationsaretheequivalentof employing several additional avalanche forecasters, something we can’tafford.

• The Friends debuted the first annualHomegrownFilmFestival to packed and

enthusiastic audiences in Hailey and Sun Valley. The films featured localfilmakersandathletesalongwithahealthydoseofstunningIdahoscenery.

• Staffgave12interviewstolocal,regional,andnationalmediaoutlets.• Volunteersworkedover425hoursonFriends’oftheSACfundraisingeventsandover4,000hoursinthefield.

• Our advisory received over 245,000 views via the web, hotline and emailsubscriptions.

• Publicoutreachcontinuestobeverysuccessfulthroughlocalnewspapers,radio,andsocialmedia.

FilmmakersandathletesatthehugelysuccessfulHomegrownFilmFestival

• SAC and the Friends of the SAC gave 49 educational presentations to bothrecreationalandprofessionalaudiences.Oureducationalprogramsreachedover1,700individualsthisseason.

• TheUSForestServiceincreasedit’sfundinglevelsfortheSACdespitesignificantcutsintheagency’sbudget.TheavalanchecenterisfortunatetheUSFS,andtheSawtooth NF specifically, continue demonstrating a commitment to providingqualityavalancheinformationandeducation.

• The Friends of the SAC provided approximately 50% of our funding. TheavalanchecenterwouldnotexistinitscurrentstatewithouttheFriends!

StaffTheSawtoothAvalancheCenteremploysthreefull-time,seasonalemployeesandoneinternduringthewinterseason:

• AvalancheCenterDirector:PermanentSeasonalFederalPosition• LeadForecaster–AvalancheSpecialist:PermanentSeasonalFederal

Position• Forecaster–AvalancheSpecialist:SeasonalFederalPosition• Intern–AvalancheSpecialist:SeasonalPosition

Scott Savage returned for his sixth season at the avalanchecenter and fourthyear as theDirector. Prior to coming to theSawtoothin2012,Scottspentthebetterpartoftwodecadesasan avalanche forecaster and snow safety director at Big SkyResortinMontana.HehasfrequentlycontributedarticlestoTheAvalanche Review, written columns for regional newspapersand publications, and presented at international conferencesand regional professional development seminars. Currently,ScottisaNationalAvalancheSchoolinstructorandservesontheAdvisory Board of the American Avalanche Association. Heconsiders each day that he learns more than heforgetstobeasuccess.

Ethan’s interest insnowstartedatAnthonyLakes,amom-and-popskihillinruralEasternOregon.HeattendedtheUniversityofIdaho,whereheearnedhisBachelorofScienceinGeographyand a minor in Mathematics. Following an interest in winterstorms he earned his Master's degree in Meteorology fromPennsylvania State University. After three years in a dark labgrowingicecrystals,Ethanreturnedtothe lightasa forecasterinAlaska andColorado beforemaking hisway home to Idaho.When not in the snow, you can find him, his wife Robyn andbabyboyArcofishing,bikingortying-intoclimbatalocalcrag.

ScottSavage

EthanDavis

Mattmovedonfromtheavalanchecenter inMarch,butwearehappytoreportthathewillremaininthevalley.Mattbroughtarare combination of skills and experience: nearly a decade ofactivemitigationwork, an advanced degree, a lifelong love formachines that burn oil, expert riding ability, a solidunderstanding of remote weather stations, impressive digitalphotographyskills,mechanicalaptitude...the listgoeson.Matt’sabilitytowearmanyhatsatoncetosimply“getthingsdone”willbesorelymissed-heistrulyamodernrenaissanceman.We’rehoping he'll have time to continueworkingwith both the SACandtheFriendsinsomecapacityinthefuture.Ben holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Geology from theUniversityofMontanaandspentthelastdecadeskiingthewild,grizzly bear filledmountains of his backyard. Ben, fooled by arecordsnowyearlastyear,returnedforhissecondseasonastheSAC’s first “full-time” intern. Ben is a huge asset to the SAC,issuing advisories, takingbeautiful photos, andobserving largeamountsofbackcountryterrain.

AccomplishmentsPublic safety is the root of ourmission.We achieve this throughDaily AvalancheAdvisoriesandweatherproducts,education,andoutreach.Wetakeprideinseekingout new, better, ormore efficientways to give backcountry recreationists qualityinformationtomakesounddecisionsinthemountains.Someaccomplishmentsforthe2017-2018season:

• TaughtanothersuccessfulMotorizedLevel1AvalancheCourse,followingtheAmericanAvalancheAssociation’sguidelines.Thiscoursehasnowreached53localridersinthelast4seasons.

• Wereorganizedthemainmenuofourwebsitetoaccommodatenewresourcesforlocalhuman-triggeredavalanches,andlinkstoUSaccidentsandnationalaccidentstatisticsandreporting.

• TheFriendsoftheSawtoothAvalancheCenter,throughagenerousdonationbyBeverlyandMichaelDeChevrieux,hiredanEducationCoordinatortohelpexpandofferingsofbasicavalancheeducation.

MattWieland

BenVandenBos

• EducatedWoodRiverValleyyouth,focusingonavalancheawarenessandcompanionrescue.

NewAvalancheSafetyInformationSigns

SACStaffandtheSunValleyResort–withsupportandcollaborationfromtheFriendsoftheSAC,SunValleySkiEducationFoundation,theBLM,regionalavalanchecenters,otherskiresorts,andtheNationalAvalancheCenter-designedandimplementedtwoavalancheinformationsignsforBaldMountain.Thesigns,postedonthenorthernandsouthernboundariesoftheskiarea,giveactionableinformationtosidecountryskiersandsnowboarders.Atransceivercheckerwilllightupgreeniftherideriswearingatransceiverin“send”mode.

Updatingthe“DangerRose”

ThedangerrosewasavaluabletoolbeforetheadventofAvalancheProblems.AvalancheProblemsareanextensionofthedangerscale,andprovidenuanceandspecificitytotheday’savalanchedanger.AvalancheProblemsarecomposedoffourelements:thekindofexpectedavalanche,wherethatavalanchemayexistintheterrain,thechancesyoucouldtriggerit,andhowbigitwillbe.BecausetheAvalancheProblemcontentaddressesthe“where”question(atwhatelevationandaspectaparticulartypeofavalancheismostlikelytooccur),thedangerroseisredundant.

TheSawtoothAvalancheCenterisoneofthelastUSavalanchecenterstostopusingthedangerrose.Thedangerroseserveditspurposeasavaluablegraphicaltoolformanyyears,buteliminatingitimprovesmessagingconsistencyonoperational,regional,andnationalscales.

Thedangerrose(top)andthenewmountainelevationdangerproduct(bottom).

WeissuedourfirstGeneralSnowandAvalancheInformationupdateonNovember15th and began Daily Avalanche Advisories early on November 30th, issuing 138advisoriesthisseason(comparedto129lastseason,and132twoseasonsago).Ouremail list grew yet again to top 1,000 subscribers compared to 850 last year. Alladvisories were recorded for access on our webpage (audio files) as well as ouradvisoryhotline.Ourhotlinebouncedbacktoreceive437callsaftermalfunctioningforaportionoflastseason.

Socialmediaplaysacrucialroleincommunicatingavalancheconditionsandsocialeventinformation:

• Wenowhave3,224followersonFacebook(up13%fromlastyear)andour“TotalReach”remainedsolidatnearly320,000fortheseason.Wenowreachas many people via Facebook as we do via website visits and emailscombined.

• Basedonpublicfeedback,webeganpostingthedangerratingtoourFacebookpagealongwithbasicsnow,avalancheandweatherupdates.

WebsiteandAdvisoryUse

SocialMedia&Outreach

• YouTubecontinuestobeasuccessfuleducationaltool;thisseasonweposted13videosthatwereviewed7,066times.

• VideosonourYouTubechannelhavebeenviewedover85,000 timessince2007.

• We now have 489 followers on Twitter, reaching a wider audience of

businesses,governmentorganizations,towns,andnewsagencies.

• Our Instagram account continues to grow. We currently have 1,122followers,nearlydoublinglastyears’588followers.

• WeplantocontinuetotweakourSocialMediaPlanbasedonindustrybest

practicestoguidepostfrequency,channelfocus,andcontent.

ThisFacebookpostduringalargestorminearlyMarchwasshared236times.

Thanks to thegenerous supportofKetchumradio stationKDPI and local surgeonDr.GlenShapiro,KECHandKDPIRadioonceagainprovideddaily60-secondspotsduringthemorningcommutehourandbroadcastconditionsupdatesduringperiodsof heightened avalanche danger. This year we issued 97 weekday morningavalancheforecaststhatwerebroadcast194timesviaourradiopartners.

ExamplesofInstagram(left),YouTube(upperright)andTwitter(bottomright)posts.

We hit the ground running with all 4 staffmembers returning. We maintained andimproved weather stations, preparededucationmaterials,installedthebeaconpark,updatedourdailyemailclient,troubleshotthenewadvisoryformatandissuedeightGeneralSnowandAvalancheUpdatespriortoourfirstDailyAvalancheAdvisoryonNovember30th.Snowmobiles are vital to SAC operations.Updatestoouragingsledsweremadepossibleby a grant from Idaho Parks and RecreationandthegeneroussupportoftheFriendsoftheAvalancheCenter.

We logged 165 days in the field; 75% of the time was spent on skis, 19% onsnowmobiles, and 15% either hiking or with binoculars on the highway. Wereceived620totalobservations;approximately12%ofthesewerefrommotorizedusers. Local ski guides and snow safetyworkers contributed 310 observations toourprofessionalobservationsdatabase.WeoweahugethankyoutotheguidesatSawtoothMountainGuides,SunValleyHeliSki,andSunValleyTrekking,andtheskipatrolsatSunValley–BaldMountainandSoldierMountain.

Year in and year out, SawtoothAvalanche Center forecasters haveshoulderedaneverincreasingvolumeof public speaking and avalancheeducation requests from the generalpublic, local businesses, ski patrol,schools and regional and nationalsnow and avalanche conferences. Inthe last 5 seasons, these events havereached an average of 1,540 people.Unfortunately, many educationrequests get stacked in the first twomonthsoftheforecastingseason,andoursmallcrewcannotfindtimetoget

toeveryevent.Seeinganopportunitytohelp,theFriendsoftheSawtoothAvalancheCenter, through a generous donation by Beverly and Michael DeChevrieux, hiredStaceyWardasEducationCoordinator.Thisnewpositionoverseesapoolof local

Operations

EducationalPrograms

Updatedsledsfor2017-2018

Byaddingbluedyetothesnowsurface,studentscanwatchwatermovingthroughthesnowpack.

avalancheprofessionalsthatcanbecalledupontomakesurethatweneverhavetosay ‘no’ to aneducation request.Additionally, theFriends set anambitious futuregoal to make sure every middle school aged student in the Wood River Valleyreceivesavalancheeducationbeforeheadingtohighschool.

While the Friends wing of theeducation program covers basicAvalanche Awareness and BeaconUse and Rescue, SAC staff willcontinue to offer specialty talks,professionaltraining,andanannualMotorized Level 1 course. Thisseason the education programdelivered49presentations to reachover 1,700 people. We held twoIntroduction to Avalanches classesinDecemberandJanuary;80people

attendedtheclassroomsessionsand31attendedthefieldsessions.WevisitedlocalK-12students in theclassroomon10occasions, focusingonavalancheawarenessandcompanionrescue.Ontheprofessionalsideofthings,ScottpresentedattheNationalAvalancheSchool,Northern Rockies Snow Avalanche Workshop and Sierra Avalanche CenterProfessional Development Seminar. He also presented to Sun Valley Heli Ski andIdahoPowercrews.EthanaddedtalksattheannualWinterRescueMeetingandtheLocal Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). SAC staff also taught courses toforest service staff in theMinidoka, Lowman, and Ketchum ranger districts. ScottguestlecturedduringanavalanchePro2course,andwecontinuedtospearheadaMotorizedLevel1avalanchecoursethat’sreached53ridersoverthelast4seasons.SAC staff hosted the annual Professional Development Seminar on April 9th; theeveningsessionupstairsatWhiskeyJacqueswaswellattendedbyapproximately35local and regional avalanche professionals. Our keynote speakers included: KevinHammonds(AssistantProfessorintheDepartmentofCivilEngineeringatMontanaState University), Micah Johnson (Chief Technology Officer at Adventure Data),AndreaMannberg (Associate Professor, School of Business and Economics, UiT –The Arctic University of Norway), Margaret Wheeler (AMGA/IFMGA MountainGuide)andourveryownBenVandenBos.

Discussingwhyslopeangleisimportanttoavalanches.

TheSAC reliesonavarietyofpartnerships for funding.Approximatelyhalf of theCenter’sbudget comes from theForestService.Despite shrinking federalbudgets,the USFS Region 4 and Sawtooth NF increased our funding level this year; thissupportshowstheircontinuingcommitmenttopublicsafety.TheKetchumRangerDistrictprovidesofficeandadministrativesupportandmaintenance facilities.TheBureauofLandManagementalsocontributes$5000annually.

The Friends of the SawtoothAvalanche Center (501c3) are thecritical private partner in ourmission;thecenterwouldnotexistwithout their efforts and support.The Friends’ contribution coverssalaries for 2 of our 3 forecastingpositionsandourinternforecaster.Inaddition, theyprovide funds forsafetyequipment, fieldequipment,website updates, educationalsupplies, forecaster training, etc.

Overhalfofour“cash”budgetthisseasoncamefromtheFriends.

Funding&Partnerships

TheFriendsoftheSawtoothAvalancheCenterraisefundsthroughsponsorship,privatedonations,grantsandfundraisingevents.TheFriendssuccessisindicativeofstrongcommunitybuy-inandsupportoftheAvalancheCentermission.

TheSawtoothAvalancheCenterisanexampleofasuccessfulpublic-privatepartnership.

IfIweretostopandaskarandompasserbyinHaileytodescribethewinter,they’dundoubtedly usewords like “dry” and “warm”. So itmay come as a surprise thatmountainous locations around the Wood River Valley and on up to Stanley arereportingasnowpackof85-110%ofaverage.Lastyear’srecordbreakingsnowfallwas consistent and relentless. By contrast, this seasonwas punctuatedwith longdroughtsandpowerful,warm,moisture ladenstorms–manyofwhich shot snowlevelsto9,000’.

AfewbravesoulstooktheirfirstturnsoftheyearbeforeHalloween,andtherewasenough snow cover in the Smoky and Boulder Zone to begin Daily AvalancheAdvisoriesbyNovember30th.I’dliketothinkthatwedidn’tjinxit,butafterissuingour first advisory we entered a long high-pressure induced drought – GalenaSummitrecordedjust3”ofsnowfromDecember4ththroughDecember18th.Whenmoisturereturnedtoburytheweak,sugarysnowthat’dformedatthesnowsurface,our“12/19”weaklayerwasborn.Thislayerwasputtothetestasapowerfulstormdroppedupto15”ofsnow(1.5”SWE)inlessthan24hrstoprompttheSAC’sfirstAvalancheWarningoftheseasononJanuary12th(photoabove).AtthetailendofanotherlongdroughtinearlyFebruary,snowtotalswerehoveringaround85%ofnormalfromGalenaSummitandnorthandadismal25-60%inthePioneers,WoodRiverValleyandSoldierMountains.Infact,theWoodRiverValleyZonewould not receive enough snow to issue advisories until March 2nd. Just asthoseeagerforspringstartedtotuneupthemountainbikesanddustofftheboats,a

SnowpackSummary

SunValleyHeliSkitookthisphotoofwidespreadavalancheactivityintheSmokyMountains.Thisand“countless”otherslideswereinlargepartduetoour“12/19”weaklayerburiedaftera2-weekdrought.

series ofwarm,wet storms brought heavy snow, rain and avalanches thatwouldkeep us on our toes right through the last advisory on April 15th.GalenaSummit–FirstoftheMonthSnowData(SnowDepth/SWE) Jan1st Feb1st Mar1st Apr1st2017 41”/9.8 61”/16.5” 95”/28.4” 90”/33”2018 32”/8.7” 45”/12” 54”/14.5” 71”/21.2”

A2-daystormMarch22ndand23rdunloaded2-2.5”ofsnowwaterequivalentandset off another impressive avalanche cycle that included large wind slabs andpersistentslabsinthealpineaswellasmultiplewetslabavalanchesinthePioneersand mountains surrounding the Wood River Valley. Wet avalanches remained aconcernthroughtheendoftheseasonasamild,wetspringsentmultiplewavesofmeltwaterintothesnowpack(photosbelow).

SnowdepthsinthelasttwoseasonsatGalenaSummit-noticethebigjumpinsnowdepththispastMarch.

Left:ThiswetslabavalancheclearedhundredsofmaturetreesfromaburnedareaintheWarmSpringsDrainage.Right:ITDroadcrewstriggeredthisdeep,wetslabavalanchenearGalenaSummit.

• Continuetoimprove

web-basedproductstodeliverqualityinformationinaneasilyunderstandableformat.

• HireandtrainanewseasonalForecaster.

• Presentfindingsfromastudyofmixedrain-snoweventscausingwetsnowavalanchingattheInternationalSnowScienceWorkshop.

• WorkwiththeFriendsoftheSACtoincreaselocalavalancheawarenessofferings,especiallytoK-12students.

• Workwithotheravalanchecenterstoevaluateandimproveourweb-based

informationplatforms.

• Securefundingforandbeginplanningforthenextsignificantwebsiteupgrade.• Continuetomakeinroadswith,andincreaseoutreachto,themotorized

community,whichmakesup12ofIdaho’slast13avalanchefatalities.

• WorkwithIdahoFallsandotherSnakeRiverplaincommunitymemberstocreateanavalancheandweatherinformation-sharingplatformforeasternIdahorecreationists.

• Increasethequantityandqualityofobservationswereceivefromthepublicby

encouraginguseofourimprovedObservationsplatformanddatabase.• ContinueinstructingMotorizedLevel1coursesandworkingonourridingskills!

NextSeason’sGoals

SlabavalanchethatoccurredduringtheMarch22-23rdavalanchecycleinthePrairieCreekdrainageoftheSmokyMountains.