Bend Snow and Avalanche Workshop

Bend Snow and Avalanche Workshop will be held on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Central Oregon Community College’s Wille Hall. TICKETS HERE!

Get snow-season ready with speakers from around the country touching on topics from risk and decision making, to traveling safely through the backcountry, to snow science and human factors. Presentations will benefit all experience levels and attendees will gain new tools and knowledge beneficial to traveling safely and having fun in the backcountry.

This year’s Bend SAW is presented by the American Avalanche Association and Mt. Bachelor! Along with support from Capacity Performance Therapy, Oregon Ski Guides, Timberline Mountain Guides, Mountain Supply, Rhino Skin Solutions, Mammut, Black Diamond, Community Snow Observations, Ortovox, Central Oregon Community College, and Thump Coffee.

Speaker Schedule

7:30 – 8:00 a.m. – Check In & Welcome
8:05 – 8:15 a.m. – Gabriel Coler: Opening Remarks and COAC Update
8:20 – 9:20 a.m. – Keynote Presentation: A Fine Line with Graham Zimmerman
9:25 – 10:10 a.m. – Kacy Carlson: Psychological First Aid (PFA) in the Backcountry & Beyond
10:10 – 10:25 a.m. – Break
10:25 – 11:15 a.m. – Deschutes County SAR Operations: Help us Help you
11:20 – 12 p.m. – Bruce Jamieson, PhD: Using Deposit Volume to Help Rate Avalanche Size on the D-scale (virtual presentation)
12 – 12:40 p.m. – Lunch Break: Small sandwiches provided
12:40 – 1:25 p.m. – Justin Borowsky, PhD: PEACHES- A Mnemonic for Improving Conversations  at Decision Points in Avalanche Terrain
1:30 – 2:10 p.m. – Nina Aragon: The Greater Impact: Snow, Climate and Water Storage
2:15 – 3:05 p.m. – Jonas Tarlen: Close Calls, Close to Home
3:10 – 3:25 p.m. – Kevin Grove: Key Takeaways From This Year’s ISSW in Norway
3:30 – 3:40 p.m. – Gabriel Coler: Closing Remarks