Why Avalanche Education Matters (Even If You’re Not a Pro)
Winter transforms the mountains into something both beautiful and unknowable. Beneath that fresh powder—the stuff we chase on skis, the surface we move across with crampons—lies an invisible world of shifting layers, weak spots, and constantly changing conditions.
I’ve spent enough winters in these mountains to know that avalanches aren’t random. They’re predictable. They follow patterns. And that’s exactly why education matters.
Most of us look at a snowy slope and see opportunity—a descent, a climb, a line worth taking. But without training, we’re missing almost everything that matters. The wind loading. The temperature swings. The buried weak layers that can collapse under weight.
Avalanche education teaches you how to read snow the way you’d read a map. You learn to spot red flags, assess stability, and make decisions *before* you commit to terrain. It’s about developing awareness—the kind that keeps you and your partners safe, season after season.
It’s Not Just About Rescue Skills
Don’t get me wrong—knowing how to use a beacon, probe, and shovel is critical. But an avalanche course is really about something deeper: building judgment. Learning when to go, when to wait, and when to turn around.
You start to see the snowpack not as a static playground, but as a living system. You learn to travel as a team, to communicate, and to trust your instincts when something feels off.
That shift in perspective? It changes everything. It deepens your connection to the mountains and makes every outing more intentional.
Why We Partnered with Silverton Avalanche School
I’m proud to say IMCS is now partnering with Silverton Avalanche School to bring world-class avalanche education right here to the White Mountains.
SAS is one of the oldest and most respected avalanche schools in the country. They’ve been teaching in the San Juans of Colorado for decades, and their curriculum balances hard science with real-world decision-making. It’s rigorous. It’s practical. And now, it’s available in New England.
Whether you’re skiing Tucks, climbing ice in Huntington, or planning a trip out west, this partnership means you can get nationally recognized training close to home.
Preparing for Bigger Mountains Starts Here
A lot of us dream about skiing the Rockies or climbing in Alaska someday. But mountain awareness doesn’t start when you step off the plane—it starts here, in your home range.
The snowpack in New Hampshire might look different than Colorado or Utah, but the principles are the same: observation, preparation, respect. When you do make it to those bigger mountains, you’ll bring knowledge and confidence that’s rooted in solid education and real experience.
Avalanche education isn’t just for guides. It’s for anyone who wants to keep coming back to the mountains, year after year. It’s about protecting yourself, your partners, and contributing to a safer backcountry culture overall.
We’re offering Recreational Level 1 courses this winter in North Conway, and spots are filling up fast. If you’ve been thinking about it, now’s the time.
Because the mountains will always be here. The question is: will you be ready?
— Lisa McCoy