SAS is the oldest, continuously operating snow safety and avalanche education program in the United States. Since 1962, the school has trained thousands of students in the mountains.

For decades, Silverton Avalanche School was the primary fundraising arm of San Juan County’s Search and Rescue Team. In 2022, SAR responsibilities were realigned to Silverton Medical Rescue, making SMR one of the few integrated EMS and Search & Rescue organizations in the continental US.  Concurrently, the school’s scope of training and field operations was expanding well beyond the San Juans, impacting students across the nation and beyond.

As a federally designated 501(c)(3), Silverton Avalanche School leverages grants, annual giving, and donations to keep class costs affordable while offering ample scholarship opportunities and deeply discounted enrollment. Past support has been crucial in helping us achieve our mission, thereby aiming to prevent accidents and fatalities. With your help, the school can continue to equip recreational and professional students with the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to make informed decisions in hazardous mountain terrain.

All donations to the school are tax-deductible and can be made via electronic payment or check.

Silverton Avalanche School, PO Box 4, Silverton, CO. 81433