Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop (USAW)
Join us for the 18th Annual USAW, where Utah’s avalanche community will team up with snow professionals around the west to share avalanche knowledge. Regional avalanche workshops are the most time and cost-effective way to build and refresh advanced avalanche skills. This is your chance to learn from avalanche experts and brush up on your skills before the start of the season.
You’ll learn from forecasters, patrollers, snow scientists, highway avalanche crews, search & rescue personnel, mountain guides, ski industry manufacturers, backcountry skiers & snowboarders, snowmobilers, avalanche researchers, and more. The format will be 15-minute presentations followed by Q&A.
We are working hard to make a LIVESTREAM option available for this year's event and will update this page with livestream ticketing options when we have confirmed the ability to do so.
When: December 6th, 4 PM-8 PM
Where: Wasatch Jr High School Auditorium (3750 S 3100 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84109)
Ticket Price: $35 General Admission and $30 Student (with proof of student ID)
USAW Dec 6, 2025 Agenda
The schedule is below, it is subject to change. Underlined titles are liked to associated research.
16:00-16:05: Welcome - Craig Gordon, UAC
16:05-16:20: Winter review - A video look back at weather and avalanche events that shaped the 2024-25 winter season
16:20-16:40: Weather factors contributing to the 2024-25 winter season and how LaNina played into the score - Mike Wessler, NWS
16:45-17:05: Building my personal forecast - Jeremy Collett, UAC
17:10-17:30: A crawl, walk, run evolution of pushing the boundaries in backcountry motorized travel. - Randy Sugihara, Alpine Assassins
17:30-17:55 BREAK
17:55-18:15: Risk perception vs risk management? - Winslow Passey, Utah Mountain Adventures and Wasatch Mountain Guide
18:20-18:50: Your brain is trying to kill you- The human problem in avalanche terrain- Dr. Sara Boilen, Sweetgrass Psychological
https://arc.lib.montana.edu/snow-science/objects/ISSW2024_P11.13.pdf
18:55 - 19:20 Monte Cristo Accident Review - Paige Pagnucco, UAC
https://utahavalanchecenter.org/avalanche/92813
19:25-19:45: A road full of speed bumps, forks, and detours - Cody Hughes