Central Cascades Avalanche--Winter 2024

Professional, comprehensive avalanche safety education--since 1998

Welcome!

Snow avalanches occur for very specific reasons and are part of the winter environment in every steep, snowy mountain.  As backcountry riders we must have the skills to manage our risk in avalanche terrain.  Most avalanches that injure or kill are triggered by those riding the slope.

Have your avalanche hazard assessment skills kept pace with your ability to access avalanche terrain?  With proper education and training nearly all avalanche accidents can be avoided.

Central Cascades Avalanche are designed for backcountry skiers, snowboarders, and split boarders who seek adventure in the high mountains.

Central Cascades Avalanche will teach you how to:

EVALUATE the avalanche hazard regionally, locally, and for specific slopes
RECOGNIZE weather factors that create unstable snow
IDENTIFY weak snowpack layers that precede avalanches
MANAGE your risk while traveling through avalanche terrain
USE valuable tools and skills in avalanche rescue


Central Cascades Avalanche director Randall Osterhuber is a career snow scientist, avalanche forecaster, and prolific backcountry skier.  He was a long-time director and technical advisor to the Sierra Avalanche Center and has guided and taught thousands of skiers and riders.  Randall and all CCA instructors have decades of experience in many of the world's high mountain ranges and bring strong and diverse disciplines to avalanche hazard assessment and to the teaching of avalanche safety. 

Central Cascades Avalanche
 is committed to a safe, supportive, and fun teaching environment.  CCA is proud of their 100% safety record.

Rave Reviews!

"...while on a ski tour, I tried to steer the discussion away from intangibles, and keep to readily observable facts, and our group made the right call.  As it turned out, another party triggered an avalanche.  For the 14th time--thanks!"
          Willy Pell, San Francisco, CA

"...thank you very much again for an excellent class!  It was fun and very educational."
          Irena Kebzova, Tiburon, CA

"Thank you for such great guidance and expertise yesterday.  It was very fulfilling in so many ways--challenging, fun, educational."
          Sarah Barron, Ross, CA

"...thank you for an excellent course last weekend!  It was really a great experience.  Thanks for doing what you do really, really well."
          Dianna Townsend, Reno, NV

"Thanks again for the fantastic training program.  Follow-up from the attendees was 100% positive--including three people who had previously taken a Level 1 class all saying your presentation was the best they've had."
          Craig Rice, San Francisco, CA

                                      Central Cascades Avalanche Winter 2024

We have relocated to the central Cascades.  Please stand by for future course listings.

Central Cascades Avalanche
Bend, Oregon 97702 USA

call or text anytime
  (530) 412-3585,  or  send us an email

Central Cascades Avalanche
Professional, comprehensive avalanche safety education
-- since 1998 --
Bend, Oregon, USA