JACKSON, Wyo. — Since 2020, there have been 11 avalanche deaths in the Greater Teton Area.
Six were snowmobilers, three were snowboarders and two were backcountry skiers. All were male, most were very experienced, and each one had deep ties to their communities and families. These figures don’t, of course, include any of the dozens of near misses that easily could have ended in a devastating loss.
It is against this backdrop of preventing avalanche fatalities that drives the 9th Annual Wyoming Snow & Avalanche Workshop (WYSAW), scheduled for Oct. 20 to 21 at the Center for the Arts in downtown Jackson.
“WYSAW is an excellent opportunity to explore new ideas about snowpack, the weather, human behavior and forecasting, and hear fresh ideas that can and will impact how we operate day-to-day in the backcountry,” Liz King, TCSAR Foundation Interim Executive Director said. “It is essential we keep learning and improving as backcountry users.”
Presented by the Teton County Search & Rescue Foundation, Backcountry Zero, Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center, and Central Wyoming College – Jackson, WYSAW includes a diverse lineup of speakers who are on the leading edge of snow and behavioral science, decision-making and backcountry ethics and etiquette.
WYSAW features a Pro Day on Friday afternoon, Oct. 20, where speakers tailor their
presentations to those who work in the field or anyone who wants to engage at an advanced level of snow and behavioral science.
The all-day workshop on Saturday, Oct. 21, is intended for all audiences, no matter their
experience level in the backcountry. As an educational event, WYSAW is a perfect opportunity for those looking to expand on their backcountry knowledge, meet like-minded backcountry users and gain valuable refreshers as we head into the winter.
WYSAW is the marquee educational event for Backcountry Zero, the educational and outreach program initiated by the Teton County Search & Rescue Foundation in 2015 to eliminate fatalities in the backcountry. Through multi-season efforts and programs, Backcountry Zero celebrates backcountry travel while encouraging everyone to consider preparedness, decision-making and the consequences of their actions on every outdoor adventure.
WYSAW includes a vendor fair featuring 20 winter brands and local organizations who believe in responsible winter recreation and backcountry safety. WYSAW also offers a huge raffle with $15,000 worth in prizes, from new skis and lift tickets to wildlife tours and gift vouchers to local restaurants. All proceeds from raffle ticket sales go to support TCSAR volunteers.
The cost to attend WYSAW is $10 for the Pro Day, $30 for the General Day or $35 for both days. Youths 18-and-under get in for free, but still must register for proper headcount. Each registered attendee receives a swag bag and free lunch on Saturday. Advanced registration is encouraged.
To sign up and for more info, visit TetonCountySAR.org/wysaw-2023.
