Haines Avalanche Center
The Haines Avalanche Center acknowledges that the land we are on is traditional Tlingit territory.
Sharing information to provide a safer backcountry experience for locals and visitors to Haines.
We provide regular backcountry avalanche forecasts for three zones:
Lutak Zone: |
Includes mount Ripinsky, point 3920, 7-mile saddle, Chilly ridge, Tukgahgo mountain, bowls and peaks surrounding Lutak inlet and lower Chilkoot lake, city of Haines, and mount Riley |
Transitional Zone: |
Includes Takhin ridge, Old Faithful, Flower mountain, Surgeon mountain, Four Winds mountain |
Chilkat Pass Zone: |
Includes 5-mile creek, 3-Guardsmen, Mineral mountain, Copper butte, Inspector peak, Nadahini mountain/glacier, and Kusawak peak |
Map of the three backcountry avalanche forecast zone: Lutak, Transitional and Chilkat Pass.
Join us for Beacons, Belays and Barbecue at the Mosquito Lake Community Center April 1st from 4-8pm. This event is free and open to the public.
Become a member, or submit observations to win prizes. The more obs and memberships, the more chances to win! The Support Raffle ends April 20th.
Free youth and adult backcontry sled safety and fundamentals classes March 11th and 12th!
Join the HAC team and show your support for community avalanche safety. Click here or the image below to become a member!
Alaska Avalanche School host recreational avalanche courses in Haines. Sign up for courses here!
Meet and greet with Melis and Jake from the Alaska Avalanche School at the Haines Brewery. Learn about avalanche education in Alaska.
Backcountry Movie Night at the Fairweather Ski Shop November 17th from 6-8pm. Not to be missed!
Erik Stevens
Forecaster and Director
Erik has been mentoring backcountry riders and teaching avalanche courses since 2007. His experience includes snowboard first-descents on obscure peaks, and a Master’s degree in Remote Sensing, Earth, and Space Sciences, with certificates in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and Oceanography. He has worked for the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science, and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
He holds an AAI Level 3 Certification, and an AIARE Level II. He's a Professional Member of the American Avalanche Association. He has been a ski guide for Alaska Mountain Guides, and a forecaster with 11 seasons of experience in Haines.
Jeff Moskowitz
Forecaster and Educator
Since 2010 Jeff has been traveling in the backcountry around Haines riding deep powder, traversing glaciers and gaining valuable experience amongst partners and the local snowpack. His lifetime of skiing and fascination with snow and avalanches led him to work professionally as both a forecaster and educator. Focuses for him these days are mentorship, risk management, the human factor, terrain assessment and public observations. He is an American Avalanche Association (A3) Pro member, Pro 2 certified, holds a WFR, is an AIARE instructor and lead instructor for the Alaska Avalanche School.
Tim Thomas
Forecaster and Educator
Originally from Colorado and Texas, Tim now calls Haines home. In 2004 he started his professional career in the snow world as a helicopter ski guide. As an American Avalanche Association (A3) pro member, Pro 2, Pro Rescue and WEMT, he has now turned his skills and interest to avalanche education mainly focusing on the progressive evolution of the motorized user groups.
Beth Fenhaus
Forecaster
Beth has been skiing and living in Haines since 2012 and recently has taken her avalanche education to the professional level. She holds her Pro 1 certificate, WFR, and is an American Avalanche Association Pro member. She continues to learn and venture through the never ending journey of avalanche awareness and education- while encouraging others to do the same. Some of her goals this ski season are to collect quality field observations, maintain a good temperature in her thermos, and explore new places near home.
