The american avalanche association promotes professional excellence in avalanche safety, education, and research in the united states.

Communication and sharing of technical snow and avalanche information and research via a printed periodical, the website avalanche. Org, and a newly published print book. Publication of volume 35 of the avalanche review, four issues through the winter 2016/17 (sept 16, dec 16, feb 17, apr 17). The avalanche review is a trade periodical that shares pertinent information, news, and research across the avalanche industry in the united states. The website avalanche. Org connects the public to resources such as local and regional avalanche forecasts, a listing of course providers whose curriculum aligns with aaa guidelines for avalanche education in the united states, and an online "avalanche library" with selected articles and resources organized by topic. A3 revived the snowy torrents books series publishing the snowy torrents: avalanche accidents in the united states, 1996-2004 in may 2017. The book features accident narratives and analysis of avalanche accidents during the noted time period. This is the first volume published by a3 and the first volume of the series published in twenty years. invested in professional avalanche training programs. 1) ran the annual a3 avpro course (8 days, 15 students, hosted washington state in early march). 2) further developed and finalized details of the a3 pro training program - an ongoing project to collaboratively create a high quality, consistent professional avalanche training progression in the united states. A3 hosted three pro trainer workshops during 2016/17 winter season to prepare future pro course instructors for teaching and evaluating students on a3 pro training courses (dec 2016, 3 days, a-basin, co; dec 2016, 3 days, jackson, wy; apr 2017, 3 days, alepntal, wa). Continued to solicit input and feedback as we finalized pro training program and course details. Refined budget projections based upon new details of a3 pro training program. Collected pro training course provider applications from initial cohort of pro providers in june 2017. First pro training courses to be offered by a3 -approved pro providers in winter 2017/18. supported grants/scholarships for professional development workshops, snow and avalanche research, and regional and national avalanche awareness initiatives. Contributed support to 13 regional professional development workshop events in eight different states through the a3 pro development workshop grant program. Contributing sponsor of the international snow science workshop (issw) 2016 in breckenridge, co. Awarded grants for three research projects, two by graduate students and one by a practitioner. Invested in ongoing process of reviewing internal a3 board and organizational structure of a3. Employed external consultant to guide board in envisioning a more efficient, effective, and functional board structure. Board built on work from spring 2016 in taking further steps to execute internal change.