Vision: A community that stays on top of the snow.
Mission: The Central Oregon Avalanche Center empowers the backcountry community to make informed decisions by providing avalanche forecasting, observations, and education.
COAC was established in 2009 as the Central Oregon Avalanche Association to provide accurate snow and avalanche information and increase avalanche awareness/education in Central Oregon. During the 2017/18 season COAC became officially recognized as a Type 2 avalanche center and in 2018/19 changed its name to the Central Oregon Avalanche Center (COAC).
COAC is an Oregon 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN: 27-1929412) operated by a volunteer Board of Directors that provides financial and general operational oversight to the following staff: a lead avalanche forecaster, 4 avalanche forecasters, and a development director. Learn more about the COAC Board. We are presently involved in:
- Daily avalanche forecasting for the Central Cascades zone from December 1st-April 30th.
- Weekend avalanche forecasting for the Newberry zone from December 1st-April 30th.
- Hosting community avalanche education events, including the Know Before You Go educational series, Beacon & Eggs rescue training, and the annual Bend Snow and Avalanche Workshop.
- Expanding access to mountain snow and weather data by maintaining the Moon Mountain weather station and Tyler Heilman station at Paulina Peak.
COAC has made huge improvements to meet the demands of our growing backcountry community. Backcountry use continues to grow in the mountains of Central Oregon and our non-profit avalanche forecasting center is working to match strides with the public’s increased need for accurate and useful weather, snowpack, and avalanche information. Through avalanche forecasts, weather data, public outreach, and educational events, we are committed to making the backcountry a safer place.
Contact Us: Central Oregon Avalanche Center, PO Box 655, Bend, OR 97709-0655
Or via email, info@coavalanche.org.