Register for the 10th Annual Wyoming Snow & Avalanche Workshop

Registration is now open for the 10th Annual Wyoming Snow & Avalanche Workshop, to be held October 18-19, 2024, at the Center for the Arts in downtown Jackson. Wyoming’s only SAW, WYSAW is presented by the Teton County Search & Rescue Foundation, the Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center, and Central Wyoming College.

Registration for the two-day event costs just $40. Plus, every attendee on Saturday, October 19, gets a free burrito from Pica’s, a beanie from Flylow, and free beer from Roadhouse and Snake River Brewing with proof of registration (ages 21 and up).

Friday, October 18, will be tailored for professionals in the field, and anyone looking to engage with presentations on advanced snow and behavioral science and theory. Doors open Friday at noon and the event runs to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 19, is an all-day workshop, from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., that will serve interests for all winter backcountry users, no matter their experience level. All participants get a free Pica's burrito and sweet swag bag.

Over a dozen raffle packages (each valued at $1,000+) will be drawn at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 19. Need not attend WYSAW to purchase tickets. All proceeds benefit Teton County Search & Rescue.

Thank you for doing your part to make backcountry safety a priority in Jackson Hole (and beyond). We hope too see you on the 18th or 19th!

WYSAW Returns to Elevate Winter Backcountry Safety

Jackson, Wyo. — Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation, in partnership with the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center and Central Wyoming College, is proud to present the 8th Annual Wyoming Snow and Avalanche Workshop on October 21-22, 2022. The two-day symposium will be held at the Center for the Arts in downtown Jackson.

Regarded for always having a stellar speaker lineup, WYSAW returns to full in-person capacity at the Center and will continue to offer virtual viewing for those who can’t attend in person.

Launched by TCSAR Foundation eight years ago as part of its Backcountry Zero initiative, WYSAW addresses backcountry safety by elevating conversations about risk, decision-making, and snow as a complicated medium. Sadly, avalanche fatalities continue to be a painful feature of winter backcountry recreation. Last winter there were 17 such deaths in the U.S., with seven in the Greater Yellowstone region, including three in the Jackson Hole area.

The 2022 WYSAW schedule starts with an afternoon Pro Session on October 21. Though anyone can attend, the speakers will tailor their presentations to on-snow professionals and other advanced backcountry users. Saturday, October 22, will be an all-day General Session, applicable for anyone who enjoys getting on snow, from people who are new to winter backcountry activities to seasoned experts. A variety of speakers will touch on leading topics in the snow and avalanche world, and strike a healthy balance between snow science, decision-making, case studies on previous incidents, and backcountry ethics.

The General Session also features a live vendor fair with 20-plus brands and businesses, food and beverages from local providers, and a huge raffle in support of Teton County Search & Rescue. It is always a good time to reconnect and dust off the summer dirt as we prepare for a safe winter ahead.

The price of admission is $10 for Friday, $30 for Saturday, or $35 for both days. There is no cost to watch virtually, but you must register. Advanced registration is strongly encouraged.

For more information and to register, go to TetonCountySAR.org/wysaw.

Did You Miss WYSAW? Each Presentation is Available to Watch Online

We get it. Schedules are busy. So it’s understandable if you missed the Wyoming Snow & Avalanche Workshop on October 22-23. But that’s OK, because all presentations are now available to watch online. Thank you, interwebs.

One of the most well received presentations was by TCSAR Chief Advisor Cody Lockhart, who delivered an important and compelling message about the challenges the team faced last winter—one of its busiest seasons ever. His presentation offers a sobering reminder of what’s at stake any time you venture into the backcountry, and why accident prevention is so critical.

Just go to our WYSAW page to watch all the videos from some of the top minds in avalanche safety.

Please have a fun and safe opening to your winter.