Adirondack Community
Avalanche Project
adk avy is a place where Adirondack winter enthusiasts gather to submit snowpack and avalanche observations.
Mission of the Project
To increase awareness of avalanche hazards in the Adirondacks and share snowpack, avalanche, and weather observations to help our community mitigate the risks of winter recreation.
Our Work
Adirondack Community Avalanche Project is a community sourced collection of snowpack, weather, and avalanche observations. We rely on the expertise within our backcountry community to collect and share observations from the field. You can submit and view observations via the observation page on our website. We pursue partnerships and opportunities to increase avalanche education opportunities in the High Peaks region. Through this work we hope to amplify the conversation about avalanche awareness and preparedness in the Adirondacks. We encourage organizations and individuals to be proactive in their communications about avalanche risk.
Meet The Team
Your friendly neighborhood backcountry enthusiasts providing you with a community hub to share observations.
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 Avalanche Rescue, NSP Avalanche Level 1 for Rescue Personnel, Professional Avalanche Level 1 with AAI, and Wilderness First Responder certifications.
Caitlin Kelly
Cofounder & Assistant Director
Originally from the Coast of Maine, Caitlin Kelly has called the Adirondack Mountains home since graduating from St. Lawrence University in 2016.
In 2014 she took an Introduction to Avalanches and Snow Science and AIARE 1 course in Jackson, WY with St. Lawrence University. There she developed a deep love for snow science, backcountry travel, and powder skiing.
She’s dedicated the last 10 years to public lands, between her work on a professional trail crew, Interior Outpost Caretaker, Assistant Forest Ranger, and Emergency Dispatcher for the Forest Rangers with the Department of Environmental Conservation. She has been a ski patroller at Whiteface Mountain since 2019, and assists with the Slide Program there.
When she’s not in the backcountry, she’s working her day job at North Country Public Radio and freelance writing for various outdoor publications. Her work has appeared in Powder Magazine, The Ski Journal, Outside, Ski Magazine, Freeskier, Adirondack Life, among others.
She currently holds her AIARE Avalanche 1, AIARE Avalanche Rescue, NSP Level 1 for Rescue Personnel, Professional Avalanche Level 1 with AAI, Outdoor Emergency Care, and Wilderness First Responder certifications.
Board of Directors
Providing oversight and guidance to help advance our mission.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to my observation once I submit it?
Your submission will be posted on the observations page for the general public to view.
Where is the avalanche forecast?
Unfortunately for us there is no avalanche forecasting service that covers us here in the Adirondacks. In fact, the main driver for the creation of this project was the absence of an avalanche center who could provide an avalanche forecast. Avalanche forecasts are created by professionals using; weather models, snowpack data, daily observations in the field, etc.
Why are you doing this?
We are running this project to increase awareness of avalanche hazards in the Adirondacks and to share snowpack, avalanche, and weather observations to help our community mitigate the risks of winter recreation.
Where does my donation go?
Your donation will go to improving and maintaining this site. You can help us dream big and develop the future of the program. There are real humans running this who would greatly appreciate your support.
Have more questions?
Contact us at adkcommunityavyobs@gmail.com to get more information on the project.