by Rob West, Avalanche Supervisor | Dec 22, 2025 | Program News
Snow is falling and beginning to accumulate in the mountains. Avalanches have already occurred in Tuckerman Ravine, and unfortunately a few people have been caught—thankfully, with no injuries. In bound avalanches have occurred at Eastern Division Resorts of Holiday Valley (WNY) on The Wall and at Wisp (WAPP) on The Face. No injuries in either of these evets as well. With the season underway, now is an excellent time to sign up for an avalanche class.
The Whiteface Level 1 and Level 2 courses are already full. However, the Smugglers’ Notch and Tuckerman Ravine Level 1 classes still have plenty of spots available.
Congratulations to Kevin Burns from the Whiteface Patrol for being awarded the Eastern Division Avalanche Scholarship! Kevin completed the classroom portion of the National Avalanche School in Utah this past October and will be taking his Pro 1 field session this winter. I encourage all avalanche instructors to apply for the scholarship next season to continue their education.
Congratulations to Les Blomberg on receiving the Eastern Division Roger Damon Avalanche Award! Les is a dedicated patroller with more than 30 years of service and an accomplished avalanche instructor. He continues to share his deep expertise by mentoring new students and supporting the next generation of avalanche professionals. This award recognizes not only his long-standing commitment to safety and education, but also the lasting impact he’s had on !the community.
Stay safe out there!
Editor’s Note: There were two avalanches in unlikely places 12/15-16. Use this link for more information.
by Rob West, Avalanche Supervisor | Oct 23, 2025 | Division News, Program News
The dates for all the avalanche courses are now up on the Eastern Division calendar. Registration for the classes will be open by the middle of November at Patroller School. We will be running three Level 1 and one Level 2 courses. The IOR for the classes are listed with each one individually. If have any questions on any individual courses, please reach out to the IOR or me.
The program goal is to provide premier avalanche safety and rescue education, specifically designed for the needs of patrollers, mountain search and rescue teams, and snow recreation stakeholders. To achieve this goal, the program provides distinct curricula appropriate for different stakeholder needs and different geographical conditions.
The Eastern Snow and Avalanche Workshop (ESAW) 2026 date is Saturday, December 6 at the Fryberg Academy in Fryeberg, ME. A one-day, live-in-person event, it is a great opportunity to further your avalanche education and spend time with fellow avalanche instructors. Tickets are on sale now. There will be an ESAW after party at Ledge Brewing in Intervale, NH.
I will be offering continuing education for all avalanche instructors that attend in person. Even if you’re not an avalanche instructor, it is a great opportunity to learn more about avalanches and safety in backcountry skiing. I hope to see you all there.
by Rob West, Avalanche Supervisor | Sep 16, 2025 | Division News, Program News
Even though it’s been a hot summer, I’m sure many of us are already thinking about snow!
Don’t forget to save the date for the AMN refresher this September 26-28 in Pike Glades, NH. The registration will close on September 22. This is a valuable opportunity to stay current with your skills and knowledge.
As instructors, we are always striving to do better and enhance our expertise. With that in mind, I’m excited to announce that applications for the 2025 Avalanche Scholarship are now open!
This scholarship can help fund your participation in:
These are all fantastic opportunities for professional development in the avalanche community.
If you are interested in applying or have any questions about the scholarship, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
by Rob West, Avalanche Supervisor | Jul 4, 2025 | Spotlight Articles
Hello everyone, 
I’m Rob West, your new Division Avalanche Supervisor. I’ve been involved with the program for the past 10 years and currently patrol in Tuckerman Ravine on Mt. Washington. Though the ski season is over, our amazing team of instructors is already planning for next season!
We have six events coming up, starting in September. The AMN Refresher will be held in New Hampshire this year from September 26-28. This is a great event to refresh some of your skills and learn new ones. The Eastern Snow and Avalanche Workshop will be held in late fall in Fryeburg, Maine.
Next winter, we will be running three Level 1 Avalanche courses at the usual venues. We’ll also be running a Level 2 class at Whiteface in early March. This is a great class to enhance your understanding of the snowpack, making observations, and developing higher-level avalanche rescue skills. Stay tuned for final dates, which will be posted late summer.
Feel free to reach out if I can help you in any way.
by Rob West, Avalanche Supervisor | Jan 18, 2025 | Division News, Program News
Hello everyone. Winter is upon us, and the snow has been falling. Thanks to some early-season storms the backcountry is skiing nicely. With that, it is time to think about avalanche safety when venturing into the backcountry.
The Eastern Division is running three Level 1 Avalanche classes this season. If you are venturing out into Tuckerman Ravine or getting ready for the Certified program these classes are for you. Our first class is coming up soon, from January 24-26 at Whiteface Mountain in NY. Registration is now open at Patroller School or contact the IOR Chuck Boyd.
Our other two classes are at Smugglers’ Notch and Tuckerman Ravine. Dates and information can be found on the Patroller School website. See you all soon.
