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If it can ride, it can slide
Early season snow coming soon- get your avalanche awareness game started now before heading out on a backcountry tour or on a snow cat
With winter here in the Cascades and across the northern latitudes there are things to do besides just dream of pow. Exercise. And nothing wrong with waxing up your boards. But, equally important is getting yourself mentally ready to confront the hazards winter also brings.
There are lots of resources for getting yourself educated on the dangers of avalanches and how to manage the risks, including some of our courses listed below. But, one of the best for Northwest skiers and snowboarders is the Northwest Avalanche Center. They’re gearing up for the season and below you’ll find some great resource links and some things to think about before the snowpack gets big.
![Powder backcountry skiing with Mountain Madness](https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-powder-skiing-IMG_2272_slideshow_2021-10-21-014035_nyaf.f1634838290.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1833&q=80&w=2200&s=7e7416ec8c0840cb4ee47f9659356235 2200w 1833h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-powder-skiing-IMG_2272_slideshow_2021-10-21-014035_nyaf.f1634838290.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1667&q=80&w=2000&s=3461d872a45a44bc4b779fe6647ccc0c 2000w 1667h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-powder-skiing-IMG_2272_slideshow_2021-10-21-014035_nyaf.f1634838290.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1500&q=80&w=1800&s=bc9621bba3c1f8ba53eebc0c983bd076 1800w 1500h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-powder-skiing-IMG_2272_slideshow_2021-10-21-014035_nyaf.f1634838290.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1333&q=80&w=1600&s=84e9e79566d71a8655375040274f79a3 1600w 1333h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-powder-skiing-IMG_2272_slideshow_2021-10-21-014035_nyaf.f1634838290.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1167&q=80&w=1400&s=14ae8bd998cf3c21995ae9909ec4b6d8 1400w 1167h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-powder-skiing-IMG_2272_slideshow_2021-10-21-014035_nyaf.f1634838290.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1000&q=80&w=1200&s=20d6e1c27f01c2e5ff0de979f160de85 1200w 1000h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-powder-skiing-IMG_2272_slideshow_2021-10-21-014035_nyaf.f1634838290.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=833&q=80&w=1000&s=70a46de8abd536fcc0bddfc1dad03071 1000w 833h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-powder-skiing-IMG_2272_slideshow_2021-10-21-014035_nyaf.f1634838290.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=667&q=80&w=800&s=5d7ea5b942ee51dc1b3f19538be9ac0b 800w 667h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-powder-skiing-IMG_2272_slideshow_2021-10-21-014035_nyaf.f1634838290.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=500&q=80&w=600&s=dca2e050c2994676725401dd55eb8d15 600w 500h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-powder-skiing-IMG_2272_slideshow_2021-10-21-014035_nyaf.f1634838290.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=333&q=80&w=400&s=4621c6ca9978a9b060411b81e9b21cb7 400w 333h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-powder-skiing-IMG_2272_slideshow_2021-10-21-014035_nyaf.f1634838290.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=167&q=80&w=200&s=13567e5c949336347ece30e114f59eff 200w 167h)
![Mount Rainier backcountry skiing and avalanche education courses with Mountain Madness](https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Mount-Rainier-backcountry-skiing-and-avalanche-education-courses-with-Mountain-Madness-shutterstock_708141976.f1634838344.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1833&q=80&w=2200&s=cc07e50a851de51da1738534798228ab 2200w 1833h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Mount-Rainier-backcountry-skiing-and-avalanche-education-courses-with-Mountain-Madness-shutterstock_708141976.f1634838344.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1667&q=80&w=2000&s=241c41d7ac80220f511cb9af09407349 2000w 1667h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Mount-Rainier-backcountry-skiing-and-avalanche-education-courses-with-Mountain-Madness-shutterstock_708141976.f1634838344.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1500&q=80&w=1800&s=febbd7779449a4f48b329666df52d645 1800w 1500h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Mount-Rainier-backcountry-skiing-and-avalanche-education-courses-with-Mountain-Madness-shutterstock_708141976.f1634838344.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1333&q=80&w=1600&s=44c5cffc16f1843cf99e69ec39b362b4 1600w 1333h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Mount-Rainier-backcountry-skiing-and-avalanche-education-courses-with-Mountain-Madness-shutterstock_708141976.f1634838344.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1167&q=80&w=1400&s=726d84f5ffe4ad9f496d91bebfe2cc0b 1400w 1167h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Mount-Rainier-backcountry-skiing-and-avalanche-education-courses-with-Mountain-Madness-shutterstock_708141976.f1634838344.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1000&q=80&w=1200&s=834761e2d02dd5a98af7e38bad4b0e33 1200w 1000h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Mount-Rainier-backcountry-skiing-and-avalanche-education-courses-with-Mountain-Madness-shutterstock_708141976.f1634838344.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=833&q=80&w=1000&s=61d413b24b2c29c1ac62c2aafaab0c38 1000w 833h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Mount-Rainier-backcountry-skiing-and-avalanche-education-courses-with-Mountain-Madness-shutterstock_708141976.f1634838344.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=667&q=80&w=800&s=9d9589f8811ace260a9801060cd02b88 800w 667h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Mount-Rainier-backcountry-skiing-and-avalanche-education-courses-with-Mountain-Madness-shutterstock_708141976.f1634838344.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=500&q=80&w=600&s=40d79148b01c81eaaa1df54392768283 600w 500h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Mount-Rainier-backcountry-skiing-and-avalanche-education-courses-with-Mountain-Madness-shutterstock_708141976.f1634838344.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=333&q=80&w=400&s=280513205db0e54df0757285e1f3e5cc 400w 333h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Mount-Rainier-backcountry-skiing-and-avalanche-education-courses-with-Mountain-Madness-shutterstock_708141976.f1634838344.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=167&q=80&w=200&s=185953444ae5e5cd70bc99d7ff3a947f 200w 167h)
Written by Dallas Glass/Deputy Director
Early Season Avalanche Statement from 2021
When dealing with early-season avalanche hazards the bottom-line is simple: If there’s enough snow to ride, there’s enough snow to slide. Whether you’re out in the mountains hiking, hunting, skiing, climbing, snowboarding, or riding, approach steep smooth snow-covered slopes with caution and bring your avalanche rescue gear. Don’t let the date on the calendar fool you when you encounter winter-like conditions; early season avalanche fatalities have occurred.
You are most likely to encounter early season avalanche hazards in higher elevation terrain, on permanent snowfields, and in wind-loaded pockets. This can pose a dilemma since these are frequently the same locations where early-season recreational opportunities exist. Pay attention to how much snow is on the ground and where the wind may pile the snow deeper. This can help you recognize when you transition into areas of deeper snow. Limited information this time of year can make assessing avalanche hazard more difficult. When you find a steep smooth snowy slope assume it could avalanche, take time to make observations, and consider lower angle terrain. Early season conditions harbor numerous obstacles and can make even small avalanches deadly by carrying you through rocks, into trees, or over cliffs.
If you’re out in the mountains let us know what you find. You can share information with your avalanche community by submitting an observation.
NWAC is actively preparing for winter. Avalanche and mountain weather forecasts typically begin in mid to late November as the winter snowpack starts to build. In the meantime, take a moment to check over your gear, refresh on your snow and avalanche training, and get excited about the winter to come.
NWAC Staff
![Course on Avalanche education training with Mountain Madness](https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Class-for-level-one-avalanche-courseAvy1-2.f1634838439.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1833&q=80&w=2200&s=ae8394143e92914be6657c0fd4fcfcbb 2200w 1833h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Class-for-level-one-avalanche-courseAvy1-2.f1634838439.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1667&q=80&w=2000&s=a29568cf889056ca56e6511b7e484051 2000w 1667h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Class-for-level-one-avalanche-courseAvy1-2.f1634838439.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1500&q=80&w=1800&s=1c7ec077549f83190788396a71817086 1800w 1500h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Class-for-level-one-avalanche-courseAvy1-2.f1634838439.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1333&q=80&w=1600&s=d080e460787cfb4ecaf0efe4d860fc25 1600w 1333h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Class-for-level-one-avalanche-courseAvy1-2.f1634838439.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1167&q=80&w=1400&s=dc69665a6d5df0c17763c01984054d5f 1400w 1167h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Class-for-level-one-avalanche-courseAvy1-2.f1634838439.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1000&q=80&w=1200&s=86603cc70fbe933108b55dd407a67ee7 1200w 1000h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Class-for-level-one-avalanche-courseAvy1-2.f1634838439.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=833&q=80&w=1000&s=5e5e8f41436745cea59573d77541a28c 1000w 833h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Class-for-level-one-avalanche-courseAvy1-2.f1634838439.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=667&q=80&w=800&s=0798241f87113d5311e8a5d04b63d34f 800w 667h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Class-for-level-one-avalanche-courseAvy1-2.f1634838439.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=500&q=80&w=600&s=cc60c0acfdf47a78604f3b0746dc39a4 600w 500h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Class-for-level-one-avalanche-courseAvy1-2.f1634838439.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=333&q=80&w=400&s=f0a58c856e9567959e4925637a1918cf 400w 333h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Class-for-level-one-avalanche-courseAvy1-2.f1634838439.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=167&q=80&w=200&s=19cdfe547c19e1fcdffd0e742aec9735 200w 167h)
![Field work for level one avalanche course](https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Avalanche-level-one-AIRIEAvy2-1.f1634838495.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1833&q=80&w=2200&s=41095a088c9c120462e58d740da467c7 2200w 1833h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Avalanche-level-one-AIRIEAvy2-1.f1634838495.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1667&q=80&w=2000&s=dc394cb261e17ffe411b1a99cc2025f1 2000w 1667h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Avalanche-level-one-AIRIEAvy2-1.f1634838495.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1500&q=80&w=1800&s=afa6d69a4b627249c521347eeb8ba895 1800w 1500h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Avalanche-level-one-AIRIEAvy2-1.f1634838495.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1333&q=80&w=1600&s=b935963212609637ceebaaff3b82d0f0 1600w 1333h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Avalanche-level-one-AIRIEAvy2-1.f1634838495.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1167&q=80&w=1400&s=b78162f6739934c7981c894ffec65f67 1400w 1167h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Avalanche-level-one-AIRIEAvy2-1.f1634838495.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1000&q=80&w=1200&s=a37138b717e280b3a524bf3948da453e 1200w 1000h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Avalanche-level-one-AIRIEAvy2-1.f1634838495.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=833&q=80&w=1000&s=b35c242d8db632b88745fd27105f000b 1000w 833h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Avalanche-level-one-AIRIEAvy2-1.f1634838495.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=667&q=80&w=800&s=cb9bee6b709c141e5dbe5e0bd6bca957 800w 667h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Avalanche-level-one-AIRIEAvy2-1.f1634838495.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=500&q=80&w=600&s=e6c7e11101a6a26fb19eb9fe5fa87da3 600w 500h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Avalanche-level-one-AIRIEAvy2-1.f1634838495.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=333&q=80&w=400&s=3ad54535ab1ddcfdec9f947956d0d083 400w 333h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Avalanche-level-one-AIRIEAvy2-1.f1634838495.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=167&q=80&w=200&s=88226d8b9f2fe619dfdab3b9cc6ceacf 200w 167h)
![Cascades backcountry ski touring and avalanche training](https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-backcountry-ski-touring-and-avalanche-training-photo1.f1634838631.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1833&q=80&w=2200&s=d775c227ab9ec010b9d72a90852d04c9 2200w 1833h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-backcountry-ski-touring-and-avalanche-training-photo1.f1634838631.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1667&q=80&w=2000&s=392b6e491088ab00a0ac47a4902ec78d 2000w 1667h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-backcountry-ski-touring-and-avalanche-training-photo1.f1634838631.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1500&q=80&w=1800&s=1931accd2ed77f1fcbeab81d8c57863a 1800w 1500h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-backcountry-ski-touring-and-avalanche-training-photo1.f1634838631.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1333&q=80&w=1600&s=9d2e8fd837136cfe198c7f53e93890ff 1600w 1333h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-backcountry-ski-touring-and-avalanche-training-photo1.f1634838631.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1167&q=80&w=1400&s=c19977bde8d26e757f837f9f7f2ea4c9 1400w 1167h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-backcountry-ski-touring-and-avalanche-training-photo1.f1634838631.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1000&q=80&w=1200&s=80486cd8c09b62a9e5a437587455147d 1200w 1000h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-backcountry-ski-touring-and-avalanche-training-photo1.f1634838631.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=833&q=80&w=1000&s=deeee66956aa3800222692416fb8c572 1000w 833h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-backcountry-ski-touring-and-avalanche-training-photo1.f1634838631.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=667&q=80&w=800&s=5b14a62a0866434f517c8976d7582e46 800w 667h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-backcountry-ski-touring-and-avalanche-training-photo1.f1634838631.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=500&q=80&w=600&s=ce789200deb4f5fab8bcac8eff3f22d4 600w 500h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-backcountry-ski-touring-and-avalanche-training-photo1.f1634838631.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=333&q=80&w=400&s=fc3359c811268ed72aa38b03c3672767 400w 333h, https://mountain-madness.imgix.net/general-images/Cascades-backcountry-ski-touring-and-avalanche-training-photo1.f1634838631.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=167&q=80&w=200&s=5c58babd467d16a678a6282c5c563e38 200w 167h)
Thanks to NWAC for this great primer for the upcoming winter. If you’re inspired to get some more training for your winter adventures, below are some links to get your planning started with Mountain Madness.
Avalanche Education Courses (all follow the Avalanche Institute of Research and Education guidelines):
Rescue Course – one day
Level One – 24 hours of course work, including two evening lectures and two field days
Level Two – professional level certification
Backcountry skiing and snowboarding courses:
Backcountry Skiing Fundamentals Course — gets the basics covered and then some; scheduled trips available or custom courses
Splitboard Backcountry Basics — for first-time backcountry splitboarders, or those with some experience; lots of topics covered for both
Guided Trips:
Alpine Lakes High Camp — one of the ultimate backcountry getaways in the Cascades
Cascades Backcountry Ski Tours — choose your route, or let the guides find the secret stashes of pow for you