A message from Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation.
JACKSON, Wyo. – The 12th Annual Wyoming Snow and Avalanche Workshop (WYSAW), is just days away. The two-day event focusing on backcountry safety begins with Pro Day at 11:15 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 13, at the Center for the Arts. Day 2, known as Rec Day, is focused on all levels of backcountry users and begins at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14, also at the Center.
The 12th Annual WYSAW, hosted by Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR), has an incredible lineup of speakers, including numerous figures who are at the upper echelon of the snow and avalanche community. These include Dave Hamre, who’s been advising snow safety operations for more than 50 years; Nata de Leeuw, a forecaster from the West Central Montana Avalanche Center; and AMGA ski guide Julie Ann Holder, among many others.
“With the speakers on our schedule, this year’s WYSAW is shaping up to be one of the best ever,” said Matt Hansen, TCSAR Foundation Communications Director. “We encourage everyone who enjoys retreating in the backcountry to attend in order to take advantage of the many gifts of wisdom that will be doled out during this year’s event. Coming to WYSAW is truly the best way to tune up your brain as we get ready for another winter.”
Register here to take full advantage of the event, including the six Rec Day Lunch ‘n’ Learn stations (they are filling fast!). And of course, spread the word to your favorite backcountry partners so that you feel safe with them, they feel safe with you, and you’ve got more juicy skills, topics, and questions to chat through on the skin track this winter.
WYSAW also features 20-plus businesses and nonprofits that will be in the Center lobby to help educate and inform attendees about products and services that can help them in the backcountry. Plus, a raffle supporting TCSAR volunteers has amassed nearly $30,000 in prizes. Raffle tickets can be purchased at the WYSAW registration link (no need to attend WYSAW to enter the raffle, and need not be present to win).
Each registered attendee to WYSAW gets a free Pica’s burrito for lunch on Saturday, Nov. 14, as well as free beer from Roadhouse Brewing and Snake River Brewing.
Ultimately, attending WYSAW is the best way to gather with folks from all corners of our awesome community to begin honing your backcountry safety systems before the winter starts. At WYSAW, you’ll learn lessons from leading experts in the field of snow and avalanche safety and have the chance to win some great raffle prizes in support of TCSAR volunteers.
A sneak peek of some presenters and topics you don’t want to miss:
- Stepping Out with a Persistent Weak Layer: A panel (Pro Day)
- Wind Slabs vs. Storm Slabs with Nata De Leeuw (Rec Day)
- A Deep Dive Into Fracture Propagation and Mechanics with Dave Hamre (Rec Day Lunch ‘n’ Learn station)
- SAR Response Assessment and Decision-Making in Avalanche Terrain with Jen Reddy (Pro Day)
- Creating Inclusive Communication and Group Consensus with Julz Holder (Rec Day)
- Using the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center Big Sheet to Make Decisions with Eeva Latosuo and Alex Drinkard (Rec Day Lunch ‘n’ Learn station)
Click here to register and see the full list of phenomenal speakers on the WYSAW docket. We can’t wait to see you November 13-14 at the Center for the Arts.
About TCSAR: Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR) was started in 1993 by the Teton County Sheriff’s Office to provide vital emergency search and rescue services for Teton County and surrounding areas to those in need. The TCSAR Foundation supports TCSAR volunteers through direct support, community education and advocacy. Through its Backcountry Zero initiative, TCSAR Foundation reaches thousands of people each year through programs like WYSAW, The Fine Line podcast, and educational programming in order to empower our community to prevent incidents in the backcountry. Learn more at TetonCountySAR.org.
