With snow in the forecast, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on our work from last winter, and look ahead to winter '26-'27.
Photo Josey Brady / Wildline
Scholarships
Last year we kicked off the Mountaineer Avalanche Education Scholarship! We've been so grateful for The Mountaineer's support of our project from the very beginning. Last year we were able to award $1500 in scholarships to four members of our community beginning their avalanche education journey.
Owen Gandt was one of our scholarship recipients who was kind enough to share a few words and some photos:
"...I try to practice my rescue skills frequently, but I found that I can still do better. I quickly learned new ways to push myself and my group to run more difficult drills, create complicated scenarios, and better prepare. We spent most of the day digging in the snow and acting out possible incidents, and I have a better visual for what some rescues can look like and how to approach them ... I'm stoked to use my new knowledge in the ADKs!"
Photo: Owen Gandt
Beacon Park
On January 31, 2026, we opened a permanent beacon park at the Scott's Cobble Nordic Center in Lake Placid. With help from donors like you and a $3000 LEAF Grant from the town of North Elba, we were able to make this longtime dream come true! This resource allows folks to practice complicated rescue scenarios for free and on their own schedule. Stay tuned for opening dates and location for this winter.
ADK Avy Director Nate Trachte testing out the new technology at the Beacon Park grand opening last January.
Observations
Information sharing on snowpack, weather, and avalanche conditions helps our community safely recreate without a formal avalanche forecast. Thanks to everyone who took the time to submit an observation! We are so grateful for your support. Until there is an avalanche forecast covering the High Peaks region we will continue this work to fill the void of information on current conditions!
Mark your calendars! The Mountaineer's Backcountry Ski Kickoff Party will be Saturday, December 5th. We will be back again this year offering a free avalanche awareness session. Stay tuned for more details.
TREW to You Avalanche Education Scholarship
We are thrilled to announce the first TREW to you Avalanche Education Scholarship for winter 2026-2027.
The TREW to You community film project is TREW's love letter to grassroots ski filmmaking.
"TREW To You is our chance to help cultivate unique stories and fresh perspectives in film - and ultimately bring together a community that wants nothing more than to celebrate the raw, unadulterated joy that comes from sliding on snow." Stay tuned for more information on how to apply!
And please join us Saturday, November 7th at the North Country School for the Trew to You Film Tour. Scribble, a film featuring local skier Noah Ball by Wildline Media Productions will be premiering. You won't want to miss it!
Photo: Josey Brady / Wildline
New Board Member
Here's a bit more about Caper Loomis who joined the board this year:
Though Caper grew up in coastal Maine, she has spent much of her life frequenting the Adirondacks to visit family and explore the mountains. She found education in the outdoors extremely rewarding when coaching the girls freeride team for NYSEF at Whiteface. As a SUNY Plattsburgh Expeditionary Studies graduate she has taken her degree back to the coast of Maine to guide rock climbing for Acadia Mountain Guides, coach the Backcountry Ski Team at Carrabassett Valley Academy, and some ski guiding for Mountainfest right here in Keene Valley New York. Caper seeks to share her love for the outdoors with others, through guided trips and education. She has completed her Professional Avalanche 1 with Silverton Avalanche School, and is currently working towards becoming an AIARE curriculum educator. She is a trained and certified guide through the AMGA, and holds a Wilderness First Responder certification. She hopes to create more accessible education for the local community to help folks build a solid understanding of what it means to recreate in avalanche terrain.
Welcome Caper! We're so lucky to have you!
Memberships
Thanks for being here! And don't forget to renew your membership to help us keep providing events, scholarships, and more to this community.
