Video: State of the Snowpack for the Week of January 4

Warming temperatures and rain events over the holidays followed by high winds and consistent snowfall has made for a fascinating snowpack. In this week’s State of the Snowpack, Sarah Carpenter, co-founder of American Avalanche Institute (AAI), provides a deep dive of how the snow has morphed since November and what to keep on our radar as we plan our backcountry adventures this week.

Thanks to Headwall Sports for sponsoring and hosting another season of State of the Snowpack. These free events are scheduled every other week throughout the winter. The video is filmed by Orijin Media, and brought to you by the TCSAR Foundation. Learn more at BackcountryZero.com.

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas...

On the twelfth day of Christmas, TCSAR gave to me… joy to the world.

Like volunteer Keegan Pfeil on his snowmobile. TCSAR volunteers know why people want to get out in the backcountry, because they do it too! As we head into this holiday season, Keegan offers these words of wisdom to get the most joy out of your adventures:

“One of the biggest challenges with sledding vs skiing is how quickly you travel through terrain. One minute you could be at 7,500 feet on a north aspect and minutes later you are at 10,000 feet. You have to constantly be looking at and analyzing the terrain far ahead of you. Communicate, plan ahead, study the terrain, know the avalanche forecast, and you can have a great day out there.”

From all of us at the TCSAR family, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas...

On the eleventh day of Christmas, TCSAR gave to me… air to breathe.

Getting up and out to enjoy our incredible surroundings here in Wyoming is one of the key ways TCSAR volunteers remain resilient. They are often accompanied by family and friends, like in this photo of volunteer Will Smith and his son, Zack, during a trip to the Winds this summer. We are so appreciative of all the families and friends who form the amazing network of support for our first responders.