Avalanche Safety Education & Resources in New Mexico: A Virtual Talk with UNM Mountain Medicine, Silverton Avalanche School and Taos Avalanche Center

Dispatches from New Mexico: Avalanche Safety Education & Resources in New Mexico

December 17 at 11 a.m.

Backcountry skiing and snowboarding is one of the fastest growing winter sports in the U.S. and New Mexico. And as more recreationists enter big-mountain terrain every season, it’s imperative that they’re equipped with the right knowledge and decision-making skills to keep themselves and their fellow skiers and riders safe.

Join the Economic Development Department’s Outdoor Recreation Division (ORD) for the first session in the ORD’s new Dispatches from New Mexico speaker series.

The December event — co-sponsored by UNM’s International Mountain Medicine Center, the Taos Avalanche Center, and the Silverton Avalanche School – will educate participants about this burgeoning outdoor recreation trend, what it means for New Mexico, and dive deep on the avalanche safety resources available in the state.

We encourage all businesses, individuals, employees, and communities interested in learning about best practices when it comes to skiing and riding in the New Mexico backcountry to attend.

Register Now

Meet our expert team of panelists: 

• Aaron Reilly: Dr. Aaron Reilly is an Emergency Physician and core faculty at the UNM International Mountain Medicine Center with a specific focus in both ultra-endurance racing and avalanche rescue and resuscitation. He serves as the medical director for several ultramarathon races and is on the board of directors for the Silverton Avalanche School.
• Darryl Macias: MD-Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine and Director of the UNM Wilderness, Austere and International Medicine Fellowship, and medical director of the IMMC. He is the medical advisor for the Khumbu Climbing Center in the Everest region of Nepal, and has been the physician to K2 and Shishapangma in the Himalayas. Macias started all of the wilderness medicine programs at UNM and currently teaches avalanche education worldwide.
• Jim Donovan: Jim Donovan is the executive director of the Silverton Avalanche School. He is an Emergency Manager, avalanche specialist, mountain rescue specialist, and avid backcountry skier.
• Aaron Rice: Santa Fe-based instructor for the Silverton Avalanche School.
• Andy Bond: Founder of the Taos Avalanche Center

Sponsored by the Outdoor Recreation Division, University of New Mexico – International Mountain Medicine Center, Taos Avalanche Center, and the Silverton Avalanche School  

For more information contact Alexandra.Navas@state.nm.us.