10/07/2026
❄️ NSAW 2026 is just a few weeks away!
Join us Saturday, October 24 at Cascadia College in Bothell for a full day of learning, connection, and conversation around winter backcountry travel.
From behavioral health and mountain weather forecasting to observations, high-route planning, and building backcountry access - there’s something for everyone. 🏔️
These are just 4 of 10 breakout sessions you can explore at NSAW 2026. Come build your knowledge, connect with your community, and make the most of your winter season.
📅 Saturday, October 24 | 9 AM–5 PM
📍 Cascadia College | Bothell, WA
See you at NSAW! 🎿
🎟️ Register for NSAW at the link in bio
💙 Become an NWAC member to receive a 20% discount off your ticket price
👯♀️ Volunteer at NSAW and receive FREE entry
Get hands-on with commercial rescue sleds and learn how to pack, rig, and deploy them in the backcountry, including steep terrain. We’ll also discuss when a sled is worth carrying and how it can serve as both an evacuation tool and emergency shelter.
Learn practical communication tools adapted from SAR, aviation, and professional guiding for recreational groups. Through real-world examples and hands-on frameworks, build skills for managing conflict, speaking up about risk, and creating a more open and resilient team culture.
Learn how weather and snowpack models inform forecasts - and where they can fall short. This intro-level session covers practical model interpretation, strengths and limitations, and how to apply these tools to your own mountain objectives.
Explore avalanche hazards that persist into the summer climbing and ski mountaineering season. Learn from historic accidents, identify higher-risk terrain, and gain practical strategies for reducing exposure in the high mountains.
