The Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC) is a collaborative effort between the US Forest Service forecasters and the non-profit Northwest Avalanche Center staff, board & supporters. The non-profit is registered as a 501(c)(3) organization. The mission of NWAC is to save lives and reduce the impacts of avalanches on recreation, industry and transportation in the Cascade and Olympic Mountains of Washington and northern Oregon through mountain weather and avalanche forecasting, data collection and education.Our outreach and education efforts are focused on adults and youth who participate in winter backcountry recreation through backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, backcountry snowboarding and alpine climbing.