The mountains don't care how good you think you are. That's the whole point of the Wyoming Snow and Avalanche Workshop (WYSAW), and this year marks the 12th annual gathering of the region's most dialed-in backcountry community. Hosted in Jackson, Wyoming, in partnership with the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center and Wyoming State Parks, WYSAW has become a can't-miss date on the pre-season calendar. Before you rack up early-season laps or point your skis at the Tetons, here's your game plan for getting the most out of the event.
Why WYSAW Matters More Than Ever
The Stakes Keep Rising
Avalanches remain one of the deadliest hazards in mountain sports, and the Wyoming backcountry - from the Tetons to the Winds - delivers some of the most consequential terrain in North America. WYSAW isn't a ski movie screening. It's a working session built around forecasters, guides, snow scientists, and patrollers trading real data and hard lessons. Twelve years in, the formula hasn't changed: bring the people who study the snow face-to-face with the people who ride it.
The national numbers back up the urgency. According to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, which maintains the most complete avalanche-fatality database in the United States, avalanches kill an average of roughly 27 people per year in the U.S. - and the vast majority of those victims are backcountry recreationists, not highway travelers or residents of avalanche-prone towns. The takeaway is blunt: the hazard follows the people who go looking for powder, and education is the most reliable piece of safety gear in the kit.
> 📊 ~27 avalanche fatalities per year in the U.S. - and most victims are backcountry riders, which is exactly why workshops like WYSAW exist.
Who Shows Up
Expect a room stacked with expertise - avalanche forecasters from the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center, backcountry guides, search-and-rescue crews, snowmobile riders, and everyday skiers and riders who want to survive their next powder day. Whether you're a first-year sledder or a 20-season tourer, the mix of perspectives is the draw. The Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center publishes daily forecasts for the greater Teton region throughout the winter, and its forecasters are typically among the workshop's core presenters - so you're hearing directly from the people who issue the advisories you'll rely on all season.
What to Expect on the Day
Talks typically focus on the season that was and the season ahead: snowpack trends, close calls and accident reviews, avalanche forecast tools, and the latest in rescue gear and technique. Come with questions - Q&A and hallway conversations are where half the value lives.
That "season that was" review carries real weight. The 2023 - 24 winter was one of the deadliest on record for U.S. avalanche fatalities in recent decades - a reminder that even strong riders get caught when conditions stack up. Here's a quick look at the data landscape the workshop draws on:
| Metric | Figure | Source / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Average U.S. avalanche deaths per year | ~27 | CAIC national database |
| Share of fatalities who are backcountry recreationists | Large majority | CAIC |
| 2023 - 24 season | One of the deadliest in recent decades | CAIC seasonal reporting |
Check the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center (jhavalanche.org) and Wyoming State Parks for the confirmed 2026 schedule, venue, and registration details before you go, and plan to arrive early; these rooms fill up.
> 📊 A dozen years of WYSAW - twelve consecutive pre-season gatherings have made this workshop the region's signature avalanche-education event.
Your Pre-Season Safety Checklist
Before WYSAW, knock out the basics: freshen up your beacon skills, verify your shovel and probe are in working order, check your airbag pack, and review the current avalanche forecast. For gear specifics, REI's avalanche safety buying guide is a solid primer on transceivers, probes, and shovels - and Avalanche.org, the hub run by the American Avalanche Association and the U.S. Forest Service National Avalanche Center, links every regional forecast center in one place.
After the workshop, put the knowledge to work - take a field course, practice a companion rescue drill with your crew, and commit to checking the daily forecast before every outing. The most dangerous thing in the backcountry is a plan you never rehearsed.
Bottom line: the mountains reward preparation. The 12th annual WYSAW is your chance to earn it. Get ready for a safe winter at the 12th annual Wyoming Snow and Avalanche Workshop - your future powder days will thank you.
