The 2025-26 season marks a momentous occasion for the Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC): 50 years of dedicated service to the Pacific Northwest, providing science-based avalanche forecasting, community-centered education, and an unwavering commitment to public safety. What began as a small group of dedicated scientists operating out of the University of Washington has grown into a nationally recognized and respected institution. This is the story of NWAC, detailing how visionary individuals, significant challenges, and resourceful ingenuity forged one of the most trusted names in mountain weather and avalanche forecasting.
The Genesis of Avalanche Awareness: A Growing Need
The 1970s witnessed a dramatic surge in winter recreation across the western United States, leading to a corresponding increase in avalanche fatalities. The average number of avalanche-related deaths climbed from seven per year to over twenty, highlighting a critical gap in public safety information. While avalanche control programs and safety education initiatives were expanding, the sheer volume of people venturing into avalanche-prone terrain continued to escalate.
In this environment of growing concern, Paul Frankenstein of the Forest Service (Snoqualmie National Forest) and Frank "Bud" Reanier of the National Weather Service (Seattle) took initial steps by issuing rudimentary avalanche warnings during periods of extreme danger. However, a formal, systematic forecasting system was notably absent. This situation began to change in the early 1970s when Ken White, also with the Forest Service, launched the Northwest’s first avalanche hotline, "442-SNOW," specifically serving the Snoqualmie Pass area. This pioneering effort represented a significant stride towards the comprehensive, real-time forecasting network that is now considered indispensable.
The Birth of NWAC: Science Meets Urgency
The mid-1970s saw the initiation of a crucial collaboration involving the Snoqualmie National Forest, Mount Rainier National Park, and the Seattle office of the National Weather Service. Central to this endeavor were researchers from the University of Washington, most notably the esteemed snow scientist Ed LaChapelle and his graduate students Mark Moore and Rich Marriott. Their primary objective was to develop a practical avalanche forecasting program, particularly for highway operations along critical transportation corridors like I-90 and the newly opened North Cascades Highway, both of which were acutely vulnerable to avalanche hazards.
December 6, 1975: The Inaugural Forecast
What commenced as a temporary research initiative soon blossomed into a fully operational program. On December 6, 1975, NWAC issued its first official backcountry avalanche forecast, positioning it as the second program of its kind in the United States, following Colorado’s Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), established in 1973. Rich and Mark, still graduate students at the time, formed the operational core of this groundbreaking effort. Working closely with Ed LaChapelle and Bud Reanier, they were instrumental in issuing forecasts, developing essential instrumentation, and fostering vital engagement with local and federal agencies.
NWAC Takes Shape: The Late 1970s and 1980s
By 1978, NWAC entered a new and more formalized phase through a cooperative agreement involving the Forest Service, National Weather Service, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and the National Park Service. Roland "Em" Emetaz emerged as a strong proponent within the Forest Service, playing a pivotal role in securing the necessary support to launch NWAC. This agreement facilitated cost-sharing and formalized the program’s administration under the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Regional Office.
In these formative years, NWAC operated with a lean infrastructure. The original NWAC team, active throughout the 1970s and 1980s, included dedicated individuals who laid the foundation for the center’s future success. Mark Moore, a visionary from the outset, steered NWAC throughout his entire career, from its inception in 1975 until his retirement in 2012, tirelessly championing the center’s mission and shaping it into the esteemed organization it is today. Rich Marriott, after his foundational work at NWAC, embarked on a distinguished career in broadcast meteorology in the Puget Sound region, becoming a familiar face on KING 5 News for over three decades.
Other key figures who left an indelible mark on NWAC during this period included Pam Speers Hays and Sue Ferguson. Sue, in particular, was a formidable presence. Holding a BS in physics from the University of Massachusetts and a PhD in Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Washington, where she was mentored by Ed LaChapelle, Sue served as Director of the Utah Avalanche Center from 1984 to 1986 before becoming an avalanche meteorologist at NWAC from 1986 to 1992. Her contributions extended beyond forecasting; she authored instructional books on glaciers and avalanches, played a crucial role in founding The Avalanche Review, and was instrumental in establishing the American Avalanche Association. Sue’s impactful career was tragically cut short by cancer in 2005, but her legacy of scientific rigor and dedication to avalanche safety endures. Mark Moore eloquently captured her spirit in a tribute, noting her "precocious and quick learning" and her "great ability to gain a broad and reasoned perspective on whatever task she took upon herself to discover."
While not directly involved in forecasting, the contributions of Phil Taylor were indispensable to NWAC’s enduring success and operational resilience. A local Seattle engineer who met Mark and Rich at UW in the 1970s, Phil dedicated himself to developing, testing, and building much of the specialized weather instrumentation, including wind instruments and snow boards, that NWAC continues to utilize. His robust wind instruments are deployed not only throughout the Cascades but also on remote peaks facing the most challenging weather conditions. Phil invested countless hours, collaborating with NWAC staff and other snow professionals, in the field, over the phone, and in his basement workshop, to create equipment capable of withstanding the harsh Pacific Northwest environment. Andy Harrington, a current NWAC Avalanche Forecaster, emphasized Phil’s understated yet profound impact, stating, "Although never in the spotlight, he worked closely with some of the pioneers of our industry to create instrumentation that helps us all perform our jobs better. The tools and guidance he provided over the years have allowed so many of us to better understand factors that contribute to avalanches in the mountains."
Innovation on a Shoestring Budget
In its nascent stages, NWAC operated under significant budgetary constraints, necessitating a high degree of ingenuity and resourcefulness. The early staff often relied on their own skills to build and repair essential weather instruments. Mark Moore recalled the logistical challenges: "We had to lease a [phone] line between Seattle and Stevens Pass. We had our own line for feeding information all the time," supplemented by a rudimentary modem to decode weather data transmitted via chairlift phone lines to the NWAC office. When equipment failed, as it frequently did, the solutions were as creative as they were pragmatic, often involving what could be described as "chewing gum and beer cans" to maintain critical operations.
Earning the Trust of the Weather Service
The co-location of NWAC with the Seattle National Weather Service (NWS) office in 1978 was not universally welcomed initially. Rich Marriott humorously recalled, "The forecasters didn’t like us. Mark and I looked like we had just come out of the backcountry after two years—huge hair, huge beards. They wanted to have us deloused." However, the consistent delivery of high-quality mountain observations and the expanding data network provided by NWAC gradually proved invaluable. Even the most skeptical NWS forecasters came to recognize the program’s critical importance. A significant factor in this acceptance was the early advocacy of Bud Reanier, then Deputy Meteorologist-in-Charge at NWS Seattle, who recognized the program’s potential and facilitated its integration into the broader forecasting community. Mark Moore, in the late 1970s, was frequently pictured in the NWS office, surrounded by maps, forecasts, and a wealth of weather data, symbolizing the growing synergy between the two entities.
Expansion and Professionalization: 1990s – 2000s
For decades, NWAC maintained a core team of three forecasters, diligently refining their forecasting methodologies and systematically expanding their network of mountain weather stations. A pivotal development occurred in 1999 with the establishment of the nonprofit "Friends of the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center." This organization was created to support the center’s burgeoning public education initiatives and fundraising needs. Eventually, this community-driven nonprofit merged with the Forest Service’s NWAC operations, creating a unified structure.
Alongside Mark Moore, two forecasters formed the operational backbone of NWAC for nearly three decades: Kenny Kramer (at NWAC from 1989 to 2019) and Garth Ferber (at NWAC from 1993 to 2016). Garth, known for his quiet and steady demeanor, demonstrated this same approach whether behind the forecast desk or navigating challenging mountain terrains worldwide. He played a lead role in NWAC’s weather station program during the latter part of his tenure, providing mentorship to newer generations of forecasters that extended well beyond his retirement. Kenny, who became NWAC’s Forecast Director in 2013, possessed exceptional forecasting prowess that belied his passion for beach locales and surfing. Kenny, along with Scott Schell (NWAC’s Non-Profit Executive Director), Dennis D’Amico (NWAC’s current Forecast Director), and Simon Trautman (now Director of the National Avalanche Center), were instrumental in laying the groundwork for NWAC’s transition and expansion during the 2010s, a period marked by a surge in backcountry use and rapid technological advancements.
In 2013, NWAC further expanded its capabilities by introducing a field-based professional observer program comprising six individuals, including Dallas Glass, NWAC’s current Forecast Deputy Director. The center has experienced steady, almost yearly, growth in its field and community-based avalanche forecaster ranks since 2017, expanding from its historical baseline of three meteorologists to a total of eleven forecasters strategically positioned across the region, from Bellingham to Hood River and Seattle to Leavenworth.
Today: A Hub of Innovation and Impact
Presently, NWAC operates with a robust team, including a Forecast Director, Deputy Forecast Director, Avalanche Meteorologists, and field-based Avalanche Forecasters. This dedicated group collectively issues over 1,300 forecasts annually, covering a vast and complex mountainous terrain. Their work is complemented by an extensive network of over 150 automated weather stations and a dedicated corps of volunteer observers who provide invaluable real-time data.
The center’s impact extends far beyond forecasting. NWAC actively engages in public education, reaching thousands of backcountry users each year through courses, workshops, and outreach events designed to foster a culture of safety and informed decision-making. This educational mission is supported by substantial community backing, with millions of dollars contributed over the years.
NWAC’s sustained operations and growth are a testament to the unwavering support of its long-standing partners. These collaborations, spanning federal agencies, state departments, and private organizations, are critical to the center’s ability to fulfill its mission.
Looking Ahead: The Next 50 Years
From makeshift repairs in the field to sophisticated high-tech modeling and accessible smartphone forecasts, NWAC has consistently demonstrated a commitment to innovation. The organization has evolved dramatically from its origins with two young scientists piecing together an avalanche forecast to a comprehensive center that now issues over 1,300 forecasts annually, educates thousands of backcountry enthusiasts, and has garnered millions of dollars in community support over its history. As an increasing number of individuals venture into the backcountry, NWAC’s mission to provide critical safety information becomes ever more vital.
NWAC is a reflection of the Pacific Northwest community itself: resilient, resourceful, and deeply committed to the safety and well-being of its members. As the center celebrates its 50th anniversary, it honors the individuals who meticulously built this program from the ground up, the partners who have sustained its operations, and the public whose embrace of its services has been instrumental in its success.
Looking towards the next half-century, NWAC remains firmly grounded in the conviction that informed recreation is intrinsically linked to saving lives. Whether one is ascending a quiet ridge, navigating a snow-covered highway, or actively teaching avalanche safety principles, each individual is an integral part of NWAC’s ongoing narrative. The organization takes immense pride in its past achievements, expresses profound gratitude for the ongoing support it receives, and eagerly anticipates the opportunities and challenges of the next fifty years.
