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Annual Report

Our annual report is full of information about the Avalanche Center. In it you'll find sections on History, Accomplishments, Education, Accidents, Budget, and Letters of Support. We're proud of our accomplishments, so browse through the report to get a better idea of our role in the community.

Current and prior Annual Reports are available in the 'File Attachments' section below.

 

If you'd like to receive a hard copy of the report, send us an email and we'll promptly mail one to you.

Media Articles

Below is a list of articles which have appeared in southwest Montana media emphasizing snow and avalanche safety. GNFAC serves as a resource for media outlets in informing the public about avalanche awareness.
  • 2013 Season Summary - 2013-Apr-15

    We just wrapped up our 23rd season at the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center, one of the best winters ever: lots of snow, many days of good stability, and no fatalities. It has been nine years we’ve had this combination.

    2013 Season Summary.pdf

  • Is 'sidecountry' a four-letter word? - The Avalanche Review - 2013-Mar-13

    Riding in the sidecountry is fun, and it is marketable. Google ‘sidecountry’ and you get 438,000 search results. As more people recreate in the sidecountry, ski areas promote it, equipment manufacturers capitalize on it, riders benefit through new technology and increased availability, the media eats it up, more people want the experience, and WHAM!

    Sidecountry_TAR_April 2013.pdf

  • RIDIN' HIGH - The dos and don'ts of HIGH avalanche danger - MSA - 2013-Mar-11

    Since 1997 forty one snowmobilers have died in avalanches in Montana, the most of any state in the nation.  Twenty of these fatalities occurred in the Gallatin National Forest of southwest Montana, and thirteen occurred during HIGH avalanche danger.  

    March Edit (1).pdf

  • Sidecountry is Backcountry - Carve - 2013-Feb-15

    For many resort skiers, the word “sidecountry” has become a standard definition of backcountry terrain adjacent to a ski area. Usually the acreage on the other side of the boundary is administered by the US Forest Service and the ski area becomes a convenient jumping off point to access public lands. In the last few years skiers have overwhelmingly embraced this access as the in-bound crowds ski up new snow at a ferocious pace. Untracked powder is a dwindling resource, an addictive drug, and access gates are the needle in a vein to a quick fix.

    Chabot Carve Feb_2013_Final.pdf

  • Know Your Angles - MSA - 2013-Jan-17

    Slope angle should be one of the first things that comes to mind when traveling in the backcountry. It is a primary factor in every avalanche.  Avalanches happen when four ingredients are present:  a slab, a weak layer, a trigger and a slope angle steep enough to slide, generally between 25-45 degrees.  Not all slopes are steep enough to avalanche and some are too steep to regularly form slabs.  Recognizing what slopes are safe to ride and what slopes are prone to avalanching is an important part of making safe backcountry decisions. 

    MSA_Slope_Angle_Final.pdf

  • Avalanche Airbags - Carve - 2013-Jan-08

    The newest piece of avalanche safety gear to hit the market in the U.S. is the avalanche airbag. These backpacks have a canister of compressed gas that immediately inflates a large balloon when the emergency handle is pulled.

    Chabot Carve Jan_2013_Final.pdf

  • Temperature Induced Dry Snow Avalanches - The Avalanche Review - 2012-Dec-24

    Statements of “warming” triggered dry snow avalanches have become common in the last few years. The public mentions it frequently and it is increasingly referred to in avalanche advisories and classes. The evidence presented includes increased creep rates, wild swings in net solar radiation and avalanche activity occurring naturally and with human triggers due to warming temperatures. These statements occur with certainty and regularity but with scant data.

    Chabot_TAR_Warming.pdf

  • Why Dig A Snowpit? - MSA - 2012-Dec-22

    Countless individual ice crystals make up a snowpack. From the moment flakes fall from the sky to the spring melt, snow never stops changing. This change is known as snow metamorphism.

    MSA - January.pdf

  • Professional Secrets for a Quick Avalanche Rescue - Carve - 2012-Dec-07

    Imagine this terrifying scenario:  You are at the top of a slope that just avalanched and buried three of your friends. Only you can save them.  Their survival is up to you alone and the odds are very low because time is not on your side. A person has an 80% chance of surviving if dug up in 10 minutes. This rapidly falls to 20% at 30 minutes. Can you get all three to the surface in 15 minutes? 

    Chabot Carve Dec 12_Final3.pdf

  • Time: The Deciding Factor - MSA - 2012-Nov-20

    Mountain riding on snowmobiles has exploded in popularity over the past 15 years. Every winter more riders hit the backcountry in pursuit of steep faces and untracked powder. This type of riding increases the inherent risk of being caught in an avalanche. Over the past decade, 41 snowmobilers have died in avalanches in Montana - more than any other state in the nation. 

    The Deciding Factor.pdf

Technical Publications


The following articles and professionals papers were written by the staff of GNFAC.

Available on the web: