Backcountry
January app subscriptions support avalanche safety and education across the US
onX Backcountry, a navigation and discovery app for outdoor enthusiasts, launches its “Support Your Forecast” program for a second year, supporting avalanche forecast centers across the United States. During January, onX Backcountry is discounting its membership by $10 and donating proceeds to the country’s 24 regional avalanche centers. Sierra Nevada Brewing is partnering with onX Backcountry to get the word out, helping raise funding and awareness around backcountry snow safety and education as the season kicks off.
“Avalanche centers are the unsung heroes of winter. Every morning, our local avalanche forecasters provide snow enthusiasts with life-saving information about the snowpack, its stability, and avalanche risk. To operate, many centers rely on contributions from the community–and that’s where onX Backcountry and Sierra Nevada are joining forces to support the people and resources that provide backcountry users with crucial information every day.”
– professional skier and onX Backcountry and Sierra Nevada ambassador, Griffin Post
onX Backcountry is a multi-season exploration app that allows users to toggle between their preferred adventure settings in Trail Mode and Snow Mode. Snow Mode provides users with resources, including local avalanche forecasts and observations from US Avalanche Forecast Centers, Slope Angle and Slope Aspect map overlays, and SNOTEL data. Along with these mode-specific features, the app allows users to download data and layers for offline use to see where they are on the map, even when they are far from cell service.
“Our partner onX Backcountry integrates reliable and timely backcountry safety data from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) and other sources in their navigation app to keep our communities informed about avalanche risk. Combined with education and experience, onX Backcountry is a valuable tool to help backcountry skiers and snowboarders plan routes, check conditions and approach this season with safety and preparedness. We are grateful for their support of avalanche safety in Colorado and beyond.”
– Executive Director of the Friends of CAIC, Aaron Carlson
To participate in the Support Your Forecast program, new onX Backcountry subscriptions must be purchased between January 6th – 23 through the Support Your Forecast website, and funds will be distributed evenly among the avalanche centers.
An onX Backcountry membership is $29.99 annually and will be available for $19.99 during the campaign (Jan. 6-23). Follow along with #SupportYourForecast; find more information here and a video featuring lead forecaster at Crested Butte Avalanche Center, Zach Guy.
Please start promoting beach life and culture again, it’s getting ridiculously crowded in the mountains since every white suburban gaper says ‘I’m a backcountry skier now.’ Ugh.