About
The Elk Valley Snow & Avalanche Workshop

A large indoor conference or event space with a stage, a large screen displaying 'EVSAW,' and a seated audience watching a speaker at a podium.

The Elk Valley Snow and Avalanche Workshop (EVSAW) is a one-day event that brings together avalanche professionals, researchers, mountain guides, ski patrollers, and backcountry enthusiasts to learn from one another and share their experiences.

Each year, EVSAW provides a platform to share the latest research, practical knowledge, and real-world experiences from the avalanche patch, helping to strengthen our collective understanding of snow science, risk management, and decision-making in the mountains.

A woman with long curly brown hair giving a presentation at a conference, standing behind a podium with a laptop, raising her right hand. She is wearing a black and white patterned dress, a watch, and an orange lanyard with a name badge. There are banners in the background, including one with the text "EVSAW" and another with partially visible text."

Our Mission

EVSAW exists to create a safer backcountry community through education and awareness. By making technical information accessible and encouraging open discussion, we help everyone from seasoned professionals to passionate skiers, snowboarders, and sledders make more informed choices in avalanche terrain.

Indoor conference or seminar with a large audience seated facing a stage. The stage has a speaker at a podium, a large projection screen, and various banners. In the foreground, a table displays multiple pairs of ski boots, with some coffee cups and a cellphone placed on the table.

What to Expect

Expert Presentations: Leading voices in snow science, avalanche forecasting, and mountain safety share the latest research findings and practical insights you can add to your daily process.

Community Connection: EVSAW is as much about people as it is about snow. Attendees connect with local professionals, backcountry enthusiasts, and industry partners who share a passion for the mountains.

Practical Takeaways: Whether you work in the avalanche industry or recreate in the backcountry, you’ll leave with new tools, perspectives, and knowledge to support better decision-making.

People sitting in an audience at an indoor event, clapping and watching attentively.

Who Attends

  • Avalanche professionals and forecasters

  • Ski patrollers and guides

  • Researchers and educators

  • Backcountry skiers, snowboarders, and snowmobilers

  • Outdoor industry partners

Indoor conference with five panelists on stage, a speaker at a podium, and an audience seated facing them. There are posters and banners to the sides, large windows on the left, and a large screen displaying a question.

Why It Matters

The Elk Valley is known for its deep snow, world class terrain, and access to outdoor recreation. With so many backcountry users in our region, it is critical that we come together to foster a culture of respect, safety and awareness.

EVSAW is more than a workshop — it’s a community gathering dedicated to ensuring that everyone who explores our mountains returns home safely.