Friends of Colorado Avalanche Information Center

THE MATCH IS BACK! $30,000 match for Colorado Gives Day donations! 

Friends of CAIC is doing important work as unprecedented numbers of recreationists head into the backcountry this winter. Join your fellow backcountry users in the spirit of giving and support avalanche safety today! Your donation will have twice the impact thanks to a $30K Match from a generous donor! 

DYNAFIT GIVEAWAY
Our partners at Dynafit will outfit one CO Gives donor with a Free INFINIUM Jacket and Pants! This is CAIC forecasters' gear of choice, worn during their long days on the snow and repped by our team at trailhead days across the state. Donate now to make sure you are entered to win!

OUR WORK

The Friends of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center is a 501(c)3 organization that was created to support the CAIC while contributing to avalanche awareness and education throughout Colorado. Since 2014 we have invested just over $2.4 million into avalanche safety. Our work consists of three main program areas, forecasting operations, technology, and education and awareness. 

FORECASTING OPERATIONS

Friends of CAIC provides direct financial support to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) to support forecasting operations. This funding allows the CAIC to hire additional seasonal forecasters. With additional forecasting staff, the CAIC is able to collect more snow science data across Colorado's vast areas of avalanche terrain. More forecasters will mean more local field data, which in turn, will create more accurate and timely avalanche forecasts for you, the backcountry user. With your help, we can support the CAIC and make our entire community safer! 

Last year, donors like you helped us provide funding for 5 seasonal forecasters across the state! 

TECHNOLOGY

Your gift to Friends of CAIC will help support critical technology developments like the CAIC website and mobile app. These developments are hugely important as they ensure backcountry users can quickly access CAIC forecasts and safety products. Last year, this funding helped the CAIC release a new Avalanche Explorer Tool. In November 2022, we released the brand new CAIC website, which features some incredible updates including a new dynamic zone forecasting paradigm. You can learn more about the new site here. 

EDUCATION & AWARENESS

The Trailhead Outreach Program (TOP) is in its 2nd season working to keep "checking the forecast" top of mind amongst backcountry users. This year, we will have two TOP Coordinators visiting trailheads across the state. At each trailhead visit, they will distribute safety information, encourage the use of the CAIC website and mobile app, and answers questions about how to access the safety information generated by the CAIC.

Whether newcomers to these sports or seasoned veterans, trailhead interactions with the Friends of CAIC team often lead to discovering new things about the CAIC products and avalanche safety efforts in Colorado. Our goal is to engage with over 4,000 backcountry users at 150 trailhead visits this year!

Our other education & awareness programs include:

1. Know Before You Go -  a free avalanche awareness course offered in-person and online. 
2. Education Seminars - Colorado Snow and Avalanche Workshop (CSAW) & Colorado Backcountry Avalanche Workshop (COBAW)
3. Billboard and PSA Program - The Friends of CAIC creates, distributes, and pays for PSAs to run on broadcast TV, Billboard/OOH, online preroll, and digital advertising. These are targeted and tailored to different audiences as conditions warrant.

With your help, we can continue to move avalanche safety forward in Colorado. Donate now, and help us save lives.