About Us

The Payette Avalanche Center operates as a private-public partnership between the USDA Forest Service and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Friends of the Payette Avalanche Center.

The mission of the Payette Avalanche Center (PAC) is to provide snowpack, avalanche, and mountain weather information for people recreating, working, traveling, or living in the Salmon River and West Mountains of Idaho.

We begin issuing Avalanche Forecasts in the fall after enough snow accumulates for backcountry on-snow travel, and continue daily Forecasts until mid-April. We currently operate as a Type 2 Avalanche Center, meaning that we have the staff and capacity to issue forecasts 5 days per week or during special weather events. In conjunction with the Friends of the Payette Avalanche Center (FPAC), we offer a variety of classroom and field-based educational programs, including instruction targeting youth, backcountry skiers, snowmobilers, and road workers.

The Forecasting Arm — Forest Service

Avalanche forecasting operations are based at the McCall Ranger District of the Payette National Forest. The Forest Service provides infrastructure, equipment, vehicles, office space, management, and wages for 2 avalanche specialists and 1 lead avalanche specialist/director. In addition to issuing Avalanche Forecasts five days per week throughout the winter, we issue General Avalanche Information products as needed before and after the daily Avalanche Forecast season. 

The Public Education & Fundraising Arm — The Friends of the Payette Avalanche Center

The FPAC is a non-profit organization formed in 1999. Their mission is to support the PAC, provide a community-based forum for sharing avalanche information, operate and maintain beacon basin training facilities, and provide basic avalanche education and outreach events for all types of winter recreationists.

The FPAC believes education leads to awareness, and awareness leads to safe backcountry travel. It is our desire to foster community and government support that will enable the PAC to continue growing and to provide individuals with the tools and information necessary for safe backcountry recreation.

Forecast Area

Our forecast area covers around 1,500 square miles. The area is split into two zones, the West Mountain Zone and the Salmon River Zone, which encompass slightly different mountain topography and snow climates. A portion of the West Mountain zone includes the Boise NF. Both zones can be found on the front page of our website. Our website also allows observations to be submitted from adjoining areas, including the Hitt-Cuddy, Warm Lake, South Salmon, and more.