{"id":25299,"date":"2025-10-15T10:34:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T17:34:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nwac.us\/?p=25299"},"modified":"2025-12-01T12:34:59","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T20:34:59","slug":"50-years-of-nwac-celebrating-half-a-century-of-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nwac.us\/2025\/10\/15\/50-years-of-nwac-celebrating-half-a-century-of-history\/","title":{"rendered":"50 Years of NWAC: Celebrating half a century of history"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Honoring a Legacy of Avalanche Forecasting in the Pacific Northwest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The 2025-26 season marks a tremendous milestone for the Northwest Avalanche Center\u201450 years of operation<\/strong>\u2014serving the Pacific Northwest with science-based avalanche forecasting, community-centered education, and an unshakable dedication to public safety. What began as a handful of passionate scientists working out of the University of Washington has evolved into a nationally respected avalanche center. This is the story of NWAC: <\/strong>how a few visionaries, a mountain of challenges, and some chewing gum and beer cans created one of the most trusted names in mountain weather and avalanche forecasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Early Days: A growing need for avalanche forecasting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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NWAC founder Mark Moore checking snow conditions at Stevens Pass (late 1970s)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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In the 1970s, the growing popularity of winter recreation in the mountains led to increased avalanche fatalities in the western U.S., from an average of 7 per year to more than 20. Although avalanche control programs and safety education expanded, public exposure continued to climb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was during this time that Paul Frankenstein<\/strong> of the Forest Service (Snoqualmie National Forest) and Frank “Bud” Reanier<\/strong> of the National Weather Service (Seattle) began issuing rudimentary avalanche warnings when conditions were especially dangerous. But there was no formal forecasting system in place. That changed in the early 1970s, when Ken White<\/strong> of the Forest Service launched the first avalanche hotline in the Northwest\u2014442-SNOW<\/strong>, serving the Snoqualmie Pass area. This early hotline was a meaningful step toward the real-time forecasting network we rely on today.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Birth of NWAC: Science Meets Urgency<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the mid-1970s, a collaboration was initiated between the Snoqualmie National Forest, Mount Rainier National Park, and the Seattle office of the National Weather Service. At the heart of it were researchers from the University of Washington\u2014most notably snow scientist Ed LaChapelle<\/strong> and graduate students Mark Moore<\/strong> and Rich Marriott<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rich (left) and Mark (right) laying telemetry line at Stevens Pass in 1976<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Rich (left) and Mark (right) today! Still volunteering for NWAC<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Their mission: develop a practical avalanche forecasting program for use in highway operations, particularly on I-90 and the newly opened North Cascades Highway. These roads were critical for regional transportation, but also vulnerable to deadly avalanches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

December 6, 1975: NWAC\u2019s First Forecast<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What began as a temporary research initiative evolved into a fully operational program. On December 6, 1975<\/strong>, NWAC issued its first official backcountry avalanche forecast<\/strong>, becoming the second program of its kind in the U.S. (following Colorado\u2019s CAIC in 1973).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rich and Mark, still graduate students, formed the heart of the effort. They partnered with Ed and Bud to issue forecasts, build instrumentation, and engage with local and federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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NWAC forecast form, used from 1975-1976<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Weekend Avalanche Advisory from January 1979<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

NWAC Takes Shape: The Late 1970s and 1980s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Rich examining snow crystals with a snow density kit designed by Phil Taylor<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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By <\/strong>1978, NWAC entered a new phase through a cooperative agreement <\/strong>between the Forest Service, National Weather Service, WSDOT, and the National Park Service. Roland \u201cEm\u201d Emetaz<\/strong> was the strong advocate that NWAC needed to get off the ground with the Forest Service. This allowed for cost-sharing and formalized the program\u2019s administration under the Forest Service\u2019s Pacific Northwest Regional Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In these early years, NWAC operated with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n