Adirondack CommunityAvalanche Project

Nate Trachte

Cofounder & Executive Director

A transplant to the Adirondacks, Nate moved to Lake Placid in 2008 to attend National Sports Academy as an alpine ski racer. Although he was not born in the 'Dacks, his passion for winter began at Whiteface Mountain's Kids Campus, where he first got on skis right around the time he began to walk.

After graduating high school he attended Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Living in the San Juan Mountains he fell in love with human powered skiing, and has been backcountry skiing since 2013. After leaving Colorado he went on to obtain a Master's Degree in Environmental Education from Western Washington University and the North Cascades Institute.

In 2019 he came back to the Adirondacks to work as a place based environmental educator. He is passionate about getting young people outside and helping them build skills as outdoor leaders. When he is not in the field teaching you can find him, rediscovering his home mountain range on skis, a bike, or in a canoe.

Nate has completed his AIARE Avalanche 1, AIARE Companion Rescue, NSP Avalanche Level 1 for Rescue Personnel, and Wilderness First Responder certifications.

Caitlin Kelly

Cofounder & Assistant Director

On a good day in the Adirondacks, there is nowhere else in the world Caitlin would rather be skiing.

In 2014 she took her AIARE 1 course in the Tetons with St. Lawrence University. There she earned course credit and a deep love for snow science, backcountry travel, and powder skiing. After graduating she put down roots in the Adirondacks, while also traveling the west in the winter to ski and test gear with Powder Magazine.

She has been on the Whiteface Mountain Ski Patrol for 3 seasons, while also working with other patrollers to assess snowpack and safety on the mountain's slide terrain. She has multiple years of experience working on public lands, and is also a freelance writer, with work appearing in Powder, Freeskier, The Ski Journal, and other local magazines.

She currently holds her AIARE Avalanche 1, AIARE Companion Rescue, and WFR Certification

Anna Carpenter

A Montana native, Anna grew up surrounded by the mountains, where her passion for winter and skiing was ignited at a young age. She traveled east to attend St. Lawrence University, where she developed a deep appreciation for the Adirondack State Park. During this time, Anna expanded her backcountry skiing skills and discovered the transformative power of Outdoor Education.

In 2018, Anna earned a Master’s degree in Education with a focus in Outdoor Programming. She currently is the Director of the Outdoor Program at St. Lawrence University where part of her role is teaching snow science and avalanche safety. She is also a Winter instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Introducing people to the world of winter travel and the magic of moving through the mountains on skis is one of her favorite things.

Anna has completed an Avalanche Recreational Level 1 course with NOLS and an Avalanche Professional Level 1 course with AAI. She also holds certifications in Wilderness First Response, Mental Health Wilderness First Aid, and Swift Water Rescue.

Casey Henley

Casey Henly is an Assistant Professor, and Head of Climbing and Skiing in the Expeditionary Studies Department at SUNY Plattsburgh. Raised in the Canadian Rockies where he learned to climb, ski and paddle, Casey is a graduate of Canada’s TRU Guide Program and MRU’s Outdoor Pursuits Program. He has guided, climbed and skied on all seven continents. He is a veteran of 30+ high altitude expeditions. Instructing and guiding for Outward Bound, Mountain Madness Inc., Slipstream Adventures, Alaska Mountaineering School, the British Army Adventure Training Unit and the Canadian Outdoor Leadership Training Program has helped shape his educational beliefs in what the wilderness can teach people.

Being in remote, wild mountain areas is a passion he loves to share with others. Casey is an; AIARE Avalanche Instructor, American Avalanche Association Professional Member, Canadian Avalanche Association Professional Member, and Avalanche Skills Training Provider. He is also a trained and certified Guide/Instructor through the ACMG and AMGA. He has lost a lot of close friends and acquaintances in the mountains and feels like working in the avalanche industry is a way to give back to the backcountry community. As a college educator he hopes to help educate his students in making intentional, informed decisions in avalanche terrain.

Noah Ball

Noah is a professional ski patroller, guide, and outdoor educator based in Lake Placid, NY. His foundation in education stems from his work for the State of New York where he headed the High Peaks Education Program for several years. Very familiar with the Adirondack High Peaks, Noah spends time in the mountains with friends, clients, and solo - climbing backcountry cliffs and skiing slides. He has also worked professionally on the Whiteface Mountain Ski Patrol since 2022 and volunteers with Lake Placid Ambulance.