Avalanche and Snow Guide

The Friends of CAIC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was created to financially support avalanche forecasting and education throughout Colorado. We accomplish this through fundraising that includes grant writing, events, individual fundraising, corporate partnerships, and our annual spring fundraising campaign.

Avalanche.org connects the public to formal avalanche information and education in the United States. Avalanche.org is a partnership between the American Avalanche Association (A3) and the US Forest Service National Avalanche Center (NAC).

Colorado Mountain School was founded in Estes Park, Colorado in 1981. Our team is highly trained and curates internationally respected courses and trips. CMS is Colorado’s largest mountain guide company, an accredited guide service of the American Mountain Guides Association, and the country’s #1 AIARE avalanche course provider.

American Avalanche Institute has been teaching avalanche courses since the winter of 1973/1974 and our curriculum is built on a foundation of snow science AND practical application.  AAI teaches courses to beginning recreationists, introducing basic concepts for avalanche hazard mitigation and travel techniques in avalanche terrain, as well as to industry professionals – including ski guides, ski patrollers, and avalanche forecasters. The AAI curriculum is a progression, where each course builds on knowledge gained from the previous course.

Avalanches kill an average of 42 people each year in North America. Hundreds more are injured. Avalanches don't just happen to extreme athletes - they can happen to those skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, hiking, driving, hunting, bike riding, and more - anyone who can get onto or underneath steep snow-covered slopes. Many avalanche victims don’t know they are in avalanche danger and are unprepared to deal with an avalanche. This doesn't have to happen – the danger signs are usually obvious to those who know what to look for. Just as those in Hawaii learn about the dangers of rip currents and shore breaks at an early age, those living, working, and recreating in snowy mountains need to learn about avalanches. What they learn can save their lives.