See you next Fall!
The Mount Washington Avalanche Center has issued the final forecast for the 2019/20 season. Stay tuned for operations to begin again in the fall when the snow starts to fly!
Entries by Frank Carus
East Side Closure lifts Monday, June 8
The USDA Forest Service is making every effort to expand access to recreation sites within the context of CDC guidance and state and local government orders for residents, while prioritizing employee and public health and safety. The White Mountain NF (WMNF) is working closely with state and local partners to determine the best path forward […]
Windows to the Wild episode
Host Willem Lange and crew spent a day with us at Hermit Lake. Great to have them up and spend the day with our ski patrol and the White Mountain Avalanche Education Foundation Youth Course. Check it out: https://video.nhpbs.org/video/mountain-safety-z7gbi4/
MWAC Outreach Apr 04 2020 – Tucks is Closed – SoundCloud
Listen to MWAC Outreach Apr 04 2020 – Tucks is Closed by Ski The Whites on #SoundCloud Andrew and lead snow ranger Frank Carus talk about events leading to the closure, the reasoning and process behind it, emerging spring hazards and end of season gear maintenance.
Access Prohibitions on Mount Washington
The USFS Mount Washington Avalanche Center has issued its final avalanche and mountain safety forecast for the 2019/20 season. At this time, the need to reduce exposure of workers and forest visitors to the novel coronavirus outweighs the value of providing avalanche safety information to backcountry travelers. The decision to stop forecasts was made in […]
End of the season and closures
Thank you for your support through this season that ended much differently than normal. We had a successful season from a safety standpoint with only a handful of incidents and accidents despite quite a few human triggered avalanches. The community stoke was high though the snowpack and weather did not supply the goods as often […]
MWAC Outreach Podcast
This week’s topics – AMC Closures and Forest access, Snowpack Summary, Weekend Forecast, Resources for checking conditions, Using a 50-cal for avy control. Follow Mike: www.instagram.com/avalanchegeeks Follow MWAC: www.instagram.com/mwacenter
MWAC Spring Operations
During this challenging time, we know that backcountry skiing, climbing and hiking will offer needed opportunities for recreation and escape. We will continue to forecast avalanches and other mountain hazards through it all, but with some changes to our operations that are designed to protect snow rangers, ski patrollers and the public. The changes are based on current recommendations from public health professionals.
MWAC Outreach Podcast
If you’d like to hear a conversation with Lead Forecaster Frank Carus, go to the latest MWAC Outreach interview with Andrew Drummond on Soundcloud or click on the embedded image above. They discuss the long sliding fall incident on Monday, strategies to deal with hard, steep snow, communication and first response strategies, the upcoming weather for […]
Avalanches on the radio
MWAC Director Frank Carus joined Laura Knoy on the NH Public Radio show “The Exchange”. They talked about the growth of backcountry skiing, avalanches in New England, avalanche accidents and human factors and answered questions from callers. You can listen to the recording here.
9th Annual Eastern Snow and Avalanche Workshop, Oct. 19, 2019
The 9th Annual Eastern Snow and Avalanche Workshop is coming up soon! As usual, the amazing group of volunteers is putting together another great program with awesome raffles, prizes and giveaways from generous sponsors like Patagonia, the American Avalanche Association, Sterling, Mammut, BCA, Ortovox, and many others. Go to esaw.org to get your tickets. ESAW 2019 Preliminary Schedule […]
Summer Update
This past season was a test for the MWAC forecast team and for many in the larger community. The rugged and beautiful mountains nearby provide opportunities for challenge, growth and recovery from the workaday world but they can also be swift and merciless in their distribution of lessons to those that work and play on […]
Part-time Job Opportunities on the White Mountain National Forest
This important field research produces fascinating and useful data that helps guide public land management. The office space is awesome too! See details below:
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INCIDENTS & ACCIDENTS
The Mount Washington Avalanche Center is a partnership between the White Mountain National Forest, White Mountain Avalanche Education Foundation and Friends of Tuckerman Ravine and other community organizations. The avalanche forecast applies only to backcountry areas, not operating ski areas, and describes general avalanche conditions which vary locally. The avalanche information provided is the sole responsibility of the USDA Forest Service.