The Utah Avalanche Center (UAC), in a landmark collaboration with several of North America’s leading snow safety organizations, has officially released a comprehensive update to its "Know Before You Go" (KBYG) program. This initiative, which includes a high-production educational film and a modernized curriculum, represents a significant leap forward in avalanche awareness efforts. Designed primarily to target youth and entry-level backcountry users, the program aims to provide a standardized, accessible framework for safety in winter mountain environments. The project was completed through an international partnership involving the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), Avalanche Canada, and the National Avalanche Center (NAC), alongside various industry stakeholders.
This overhaul of the KBYG program comes at a time when backcountry recreation is seeing unprecedented growth across the United States and Canada. As more individuals venture beyond the boundaries of established ski resorts, the need for foundational education has become a critical public safety priority. The new program is structured around five key pillars of avalanche safety, which have been refined to ensure that the messaging is both memorable and actionable for a younger demographic. These pillars—Get the Gear, Get the Training, Get the Forecast, Get the Picture, and Get Out of Harm’s Way—serve as the cornerstone of the updated curriculum.
The Evolution of Avalanche Education: Context and History
The "Know Before You Go" program was originally conceived in 2004 by the Utah Avalanche Center in response to a series of tragic avalanche accidents involving young people in the mountains of Utah. The initial goal was simple: to create a 45-minute presentation that could be delivered in middle schools and high schools to introduce students to the reality of avalanche danger. Over the subsequent decade, the program became the de facto standard for introductory avalanche education in the United States, reaching hundreds of thousands of students.
However, as digital media and cinematography evolved, the original materials began to lose their resonance with a generation raised on high-definition content and social media. Recognizing this gap, the UAC spearheaded a multi-year effort to modernize the program. The result is a cinematic experience that utilizes professional athletes, state-of-the-art drone footage, and compelling storytelling to convey the seriousness of the mountain environment without alienating its audience.
The decision to collaborate with Avalanche Canada and the Colorado Avalanche Information Center was strategic. By aligning the messaging across state and national borders, the organizations have created a unified language for avalanche safety. This ensures that a skier in British Columbia and a snowmobiler in Colorado are receiving the same fundamental advice, reducing confusion and reinforcing safety protocols as recreators travel between different mountain ranges.
The Five Pillars: A Structured Approach to Safety
The updated KBYG program focuses on five essential steps that every winter recreationist must take before heading into the backcountry. These steps are designed to be intuitive and to provide a checklist that minimizes the "human factor"—the psychological biases that often lead to poor decision-making in high-risk environments.
1. Get the Gear
The program emphasizes that three pieces of equipment are non-negotiable: an avalanche transceiver (beacon), a probe, and a shovel. The updated curriculum goes beyond mere identification, explaining the necessity of carrying these items on one’s body rather than in a pack that could be lost in a slide. It also highlights the emerging role of avalanche airbags as a secondary safety measure.
2. Get the Training
Education is presented as a lifelong process. KBYG serves as the "Level 0" or introductory tier, intended to pique interest and encourage users to seek formal Level 1 and Level 2 avalanche courses. The program stresses that gear is useless without the knowledge of how to use it under extreme stress.
3. Get the Forecast
The program directs users to official resources like avalanche.org and local forecast centers. It teaches students how to interpret the North American Avalanche Danger Scale, which uses a color-coded system to rank danger from "Low" to "Extreme." Understanding the specific "avalanche problems" of the day—such as wind slab or persistent weak layers—is highlighted as a critical skill.
4. Get the Picture
This pillar focuses on situational awareness. It encourages users to look for "red flags" in the field, such as recent avalanche activity, "whumpfing" sounds (the sound of a collapsing snowpack), and cracking in the snow. It also emphasizes the importance of understanding slope angle, noting that most avalanches occur on slopes between 30 and 45 degrees.
5. Get Out of Harm’s Way
The final pillar addresses group dynamics and terrain management. It teaches users to expose only one person at a time to potential slide paths and to stay in constant communication. The updated video features testimonials from survivors and professionals who have witnessed the consequences of ignoring these fundamental rules.
Supporting Data: The Rising Stakes of Backcountry Use
The release of the updated KBYG program is supported by sobering data regarding avalanche fatalities and the demographics of those at risk. According to statistics compiled by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, the United States averages approximately 27 avalanche fatalities per year. However, the 2020-2021 season saw a record-breaking 37 deaths, a spike attributed in part to a weak early-season snowpack and an influx of new backcountry users during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Data suggests that the majority of avalanche victims are males between the ages of 18 and 35, a demographic that aligns closely with the target audience of the KBYG program. Furthermore, while skiers and snowboarders historically made up the bulk of fatalities, the number of snowmobile-related accidents has risen significantly over the last two decades. The updated KBYG video specifically includes footage of motorized users to ensure that the message is inclusive of all backcountry disciplines.
Research into human factors, or "heuristic traps," has shown that most accidents occur not because of a lack of gear, but because of poor decision-making. Familiarity with a specific area, the desire to reach a specific goal (summit fever), and social pressure are all factors that the updated KBYG curriculum seeks to address through its "Get the Picture" and "Get Out of Harm’s Way" segments.
Chronology of the Update Project
The journey to the current iteration of Know Before You Go was a multi-phase process that spanned several years:
- 2013-2014: The Utah Avalanche Center identifies the need for a total visual and curricular overhaul. Preliminary meetings with the National Avalanche Center begin to discuss a national standard for introductory education.
- 2015: A fundraising campaign is launched, drawing support from outdoor industry giants including Backcountry.com, Black Diamond, and various private donors. Production begins on the new flagship video.
- Late 2015: The "Know Before You Go" website (kbyg.org) is redesigned to serve as a central hub for the program, offering free resources for teachers, students, and the general public.
- 2016: The official launch of the updated video and curriculum. The program is rolled out across North America, with localized versions of the presentation made available to regional avalanche centers.
- Post-2016 Expansion: Since the initial update, the program has been translated into multiple languages and has seen adoption by international avalanche organizations in Europe and New Zealand, cementing its status as a global standard.
Official Responses and Industry Collaboration
The response to the updated program from the professional avalanche community has been overwhelmingly positive. Representatives from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center noted that the collaboration has allowed for a "force multiplier" effect, where the combined resources of multiple agencies produced a product that no single agency could have funded or produced on its own.
"The goal of the KBYG program is to save lives by making avalanche education accessible to everyone," stated a spokesperson for the project. "By working with Avalanche Canada and the NAC, we have ensured that the message is consistent. Whether you are a teenager in a high school assembly or a seasoned hiker looking to transition into winter sports, the steps remain the same."
Industry partners have also praised the program for its ability to bridge the gap between retail and safety. Outdoor equipment manufacturers have increasingly integrated KBYG messaging into their marketing, recognizing that a safer customer base is essential for the long-term sustainability of the backcountry industry.
Broader Impact and Implications for Public Safety
The implications of the updated KBYG program extend beyond the immediate reduction of accidents. By standardizing the introductory level of avalanche awareness, the UAC and its partners are creating a more informed pipeline of backcountry users. This "educational ladder" encourages participants to move from awareness (KBYG) to professional training (AIARE or Avalanche Canada Level 1).
Furthermore, the program addresses the economic impact of avalanche accidents. Search and rescue (SAR) operations are costly and put the lives of first responders at risk. By reducing the frequency of preventable accidents through education, the KBYG program provides a significant public service that alleviates the burden on local sheriff’s departments and volunteer SAR teams.
The move toward a digital-first, high-quality video format also allows the program to reach rural areas where a professional avalanche forecaster may not be available to give a live presentation. The website kbyg.org now serves as a 24/7 classroom, providing the necessary tools for any educator or community leader to host their own awareness session.
As climate change continues to affect snowpack stability and winter weather patterns become more volatile, the importance of dynamic and accessible education cannot be overstated. The Utah Avalanche Center’s commitment to updating the Know Before You Go program ensures that the next generation of mountain enthusiasts is equipped with the knowledge to enjoy the backcountry responsibly and return home safely.
