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Outdoor Safety: Avalanche and Winter Safety
The high country of the Coconino National Forest around Flagstaff and Mogollon Rim Country is a high elevation zone on the Colorado Plateau. In this region, elevations above the Mogollon Rim are typically around 7,000', rising to nearly 13,000' at Humphreys Peak, and 9,000' or more in the surrounding Cinder Hills.
Prepare for Winter Weather
Snowfalls average over 100" per year, allowing the Forest to support skiing and snowplay facilities. While most people enjoy winter sports and play at one of these facilities, many trek out into the Forest on cross-country skis, snowshoes, or snowmobiles. Wonderful adventure awaits in the winter wonderland of Flagstaff and Rim Country... and so does danger. Freezing temperatures, avalanches, and treacherous terrain are just a few of the hazards that await you. It is critically important that you are well prepared before venturing off the beaten path and away from civilization.
When you travel into the Forest away from managed recreation facilities, you are on your own.
Backcountry permits are no longer required, but keep in mind some important factors: You may find yourself in an area without cell phone service. If you can call for help, it could take hours for help to get to your location. There are no ski patrols outside the managed recreation area boundaries. Planning in advance, knowing how to stay safe, dressing appropriately, carrying the right gear, and being prepared for an emergency could make the difference between life and death.
General Winter Safety Tips
Know before you go
Know the current conditions and the forecast. Weather in the Flagstaff and Rim Country can be unpredictable. A sunny day can quickly turn into a blizzard.
- Flagstaff Area weather (National Weather Service)
- Recreational Forecast Information for the San Francisco Peaks (National Weather Service)
- Snowpack Summary for the San Francisco Peaks (Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center)
Check appropriate websites for news, closures, and alerts.
- Alerts and Notices
- Forest Road Status
- Forest Orders: area closures and restrictions
Know where you're going and what kind of terrain you'll be encountering. Get a map and know how to navigate with a compass.
- Maps: general recreation maps sold at our offices and available online
- Major Snow Avalanche Zones Map for the San Francisco Peaks (Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center)
Take first aid and equipment classes, gain experience, and learn your limits before going beyond the managed recreation boundaries.
- Tell someone who cares about your welfare where you are going. Let at least one family member, friend, or coworker know where you are going and what your plan is.
- Educate yourself on hazards in the backcountry: Visit the Kachina Peak Avalanche Center website.
- Buddy system! Never go alone.
- Carry the right gear.
- Water
- Food
- Extra warm clothing
- Map, compass, and GPS (do NOT depend solely on your GPS or phone - electronics fail!)
- Headlamp and/or flashlight
- First aid kit
- Shelter, tarp, or emergency blanket
- Matches and a fire kit
- Knife, multi-tool, and tape
- Whistle and signal mirror
- Shovel
- Avalanche beacon/transceiver
- Avalanche probe pole
Critical Avalanche Safety
There are 75 major avalanche zones on the San Francisco Peaks. It is absolutely critical you know how to avoid getting caught in an avalanche and how to rescue yourself if you do get caught.
- Take the Avalanche Safety Tutorial (avalanche.org)
- Attend Avalanche courses and clinics held by the Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center. The introductory level course is free. A fee is required for more advanced courses. Scholarships are available to assist with course fees.
- Pick up the Avalanche Safety brochure at one of our Flagstaff offices.
Avalanche Awareness in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness
Students at Northern Arizona University in Professor Martha Lee's Wilderness Management class created this video as part of a larger class project. The project was undertaken in close cooperation with US Forest Service personnel and designed to improve the information available to Wilderness users.
Avalanche Awareness on YouTube.
Resources
- Flagstaff Area weather (National Weather Service)
- Recreational Forecast Information for the San Francisco Peaks (National Weather Service)
- Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center: The best resource for avalanche information in Arizona
- Snowpack Summary for the San Francisco Peaks (Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center)
- Know Before You Go: Free avalanche awareness program. Learn when and why avalanches happen and how you can have fun and stay safe!
- Avalanche.org: Avalanche information throughout the nation
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Related Information
Winter recreation information and maps for the Coconino National Forest.