ADK Avy co-founders Caitlin Kelly and Nate Trachte doing snowpack tests in their home zone in New York's Adirondacks Mountains.

Backcountry skiers Caitlin Kelly and Nate Trachte saw a need in their tight-knit community in New York’s Adirondacks mountains. With an abundance of slide paths on their tallest mountains, a growing community of backcountry skiers, and no avalanche forecasts for the High Peaks region they wanted to ski - the two decided in 2022 to co-found the Adirondack Community Avalanche Project (ADK Avy).

Adirondack Community Avalanche Project Was Born

ADK Avy is a nonprofit that shares snowpack information, avalanche data, and weather observations to increase awareness of avalanches and to help the community mitigate the risks of winter recreation, specifically focusing on the High Peaks Wilderness area.

Despite some major incidents and avalanche deaths over the years, there is still a pervasive sense that avalanches are so rare or of minimal concern that the risk need not be taken seriously.

This project grew out of a lack of resources available to folks traveling in avalanche terrain. Caitlin and Nate wanted to help the community organize, to share snowpack and avalanche observations, and to build good habits around avalanche safety. 

Meet Co-Founder Caitlin Kelly....

Tell us more Caitlin!

I grew up in Southern Maine and went to college at  St. Lawrence University in Upstate New York where I developed a fondness for the Adirondacks and backcountry skiing. I didn’t grow up skiing — I learned from a family friend as a senior in high school — but quickly fell in love.

I took my first avalanche course at SLU which was an AIARE Level 1 and Outdoor Studies class called  “Intro to Snow Science and Avalanches” out in Jackson, Wyoming, and began exploring the ADK backcountry soon after. 

My life has revolved around skiing since, interning and later writing for Powder Magazine, and also Ski Magazine, Outside, The Ski Journal, and more. 

I’ve been a ski patroller at Whiteface Mountain since 2019, and worked in public lands — search and rescue, trail work, and backcountry caretaking — for most of my twenties.

Along with my WFR and OEC, I hold my AIARE Avalanche 1, AIARE Avalanche Rescue, AAI Professional Avalanche Training 1, and NSP Avalanche Level 1 for Rescue Personnel.

Caitlin's Favorite Local Zone

My favorite place to ski is usually the place I skied last. Nate and I skied from the top of New York’s second highest mountain, Algonquin, the other day. It was a perfect bluebird day, cold, mountains and wilderness as far as we could see. We skied off the summit into an open bowl and down the drainage, about 2500 feet of mostly continuous skiing, a rarity in the High Peaks. Algonquin is very special to me. When I was a backcountry caretaker at Lake Colden, I could see the summit from my front porch, in all kinds of weather. I’ve hiked it many times in the summer, and I’ve been a part of a few rescues — mostly at night — on its trails. This is something I love so much about living here, knowing a place in all of its seasons.

Meet Co-Founder Nate Trachte....

Tell us more Nate!

I moved to Lake Placid NY in 2008 to attend National Sports Academy as an alpine ski racer. Although I was not born in the Adirondacks, my passion for winter began at Whiteface Mountain's Kids Campus, where I first got on skis right around the time I began to walk.

After graduating high school, I attended Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. Living in the San Juan Mountains I fell in love with human powered skiing, and have been backcountry skiing since 2013. 

In 2019 I came back to the Adirondacks to work as a place based environmental educator.

I have completed my AIARE Avalanche 1, AIARE Companion Rescue, AAI Professional Avalanche 1, NSP Avalanche Level 1 for Rescue Personnel, and Wilderness First Responder.

Nate's Favorite Local Zone

I love skiing on Mt Colden. There are a good number of options on different aspects. From super inspiring open faces, technical gullies, and classic ski mountaineering descents, it’s all there. Many of the lines end in my favorite place to be in the winter, Avalanche Lake. 

More on ADK Avy?

Q: What are your hopes for the organization for the future?

A: First and foremost our hope is that our organization is useful to the community, and that we can increase avalanche awareness and preparedness. We hope to help folks understand the risk and develop good habits to help mitigate that risk by regularly checking and submitting observations, brushing up on their rescue skills, and practicing good travel techniques.

We want to continue to host free avalanche awareness presentations and events, increase access to low cost avalanche education, and open a permanent beacon park where folks can go and practice their rescue skills.

Perhaps the largest goal of our organization is to help create an avalanche forecast that covers the High Peaks. 

Q: How can people support this effort?

A: Folks can head over to adkavy.org/donate to become a member or donate.
You can also follow us on Instagram at @adkavy or on our website at adkavy.org

Photos in this profile article were taken by talented photographer (and ADK local) Josey Brady. Thank you for these incredible pictures that show us just how beautiful the Adirondacks are blanketed in snow!