Avalanche Education in West Central Montana

The West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation (WCMAF) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting public education regarding avalanche safety; providing information to the general public regarding weather and snow conditions that contribute to avalanche danger; and promote avalanche safety and awareness in West Central Montana. The WCMAF supports the West Central Montana Avalanche Center (WCMAC) of the Lolo National Forest, which provides a weekly advisory during the winter months.

The WCMAF, in partnership with the Lolo National Forest provides the website (missoulaavalanche.org) for posting of avalanche advisories and other information pertinent to avalanche awareness for winter backcountry users. The WCMAF along with the WCMAC sponsors avalanche awareness training throughout the season.

Since the inception of the WCMAF funds have been raised to support avalanche education in West Central Montana, secure and maintain the website and grow from a weekend advisory to a Monday/Friday advisory. New goals of the WCMAF are to support the ongoing advisories and education and to build avalanche beacon parks in the area for training and education.

Beacon Basin Training Parks are currently located at Lost Trail Pass Ski Area, Lolo Pass and Montana Snowbowl Ski Area.  Two parks are currently on order and are slated to be installed at Seeley Lake, MT and near Savanac between Superior and St. Regis, MT.