Our Mission
The Friends of the Payette Avalanche Center (FPAC) is a non-profit organization formed in 1999. Our mission is to: provide a community based forum to share avalanche information, to operate and maintain beacon basin training facilities in the area, to provide basic avalanche education to all types of winter recreationists, and to be a partner to the PAC in the West Central Mountains of Idaho.
The FPAC believe education leads to awareness, and awareness leads to safe backcountry travel. It is our desire to foster the community and government support that will allow the PAC to continue to grow and provide individuals the tools and information necessary for safe backcountry recreation.
If you would like to get more involved email us to find out how, we need volunteer board members, and folks to help us out with our outreach, classes and fundraising.
Why Donate?
The FPAC organization depends entirely on the support of volunteers and the generosity of the public to attain their fund-raising goals. As federal and state budgets for avalanche centers shrink, groups like the FPAC are doing more to fund local avalanche centers efforts to provide avalanche advisories and education. We need your help! Your support will enable the PAC to continue to provide current avalanche information, offer community education, and purchase necessary equipment.
What's New
Missing our annual fundraiser party? We do too! The FPAC has relied on that event to generate approximately half our budget. But since the pandemic has put the kibosh on a party, we’re relying on you to support the us by contributing to and bidding on items in our online auction. We’ve gathered some great stuff and services from generous donors. Please patronize those donors’ businesses! It’s not too late to donate more items and services. Just contact us.
Both Brundage and Tamarack ski resorts have installed avalanche beacon check stations provided by the Friends at access points into avalanche terrain. More of our beacon check stations will be installed very soon at the No Business and Brush Creek snowmobile trailheads, with the help of the McCall Area Snowmobilers Club in conjunction with the Donnelly Snowmobile Club. Also, plans are in place to update the beacon checker at the Gordon Titus Upper Elevation lot. These beacon check stations let users know if their avalanche beacons are turned on, a first step towards safe travel in avalanche terrain. Valley County snow grooming personnel have committed to maintaining the stations at the snowmobile lots. We appreciate this help!
We partner with Brundage and the 705 Backcountry Ski Patrol, Payette Powder Guides, the increasingly popular all women’s class at Tamarack, and others to offer avalanche education opportunities. Last year’s January 9-10 level 1 class at Brundage was a great success, as was the January 23 ‘introduction to avalanches’ class at the Little Ski Hill. Check this website for future education opportunities.
Our beacon training park is in its 2nd season at Little Ski Hill, in hopes it will receive more use from youth within the community as well as the motorized community. Practice your skills!
Upcoming Events
There are no upcoming events.
Who We Are
Staff
Board Members
Brian Peters President
Heather ThiryBoard member
Nate GilesBoard member
Jim Pace Board member
Todd "Toddeo" Leeds Observer Coordination and all around PITA
Janna Allen is our motorized community liaison.