Avyscience.com

Welcome to Avalanche Science!

Experience backcountry riding with Avalanche Science Guides

Extensive POW Playground with more than 9000 acres of terrain and 180 named runs!

Absolutely the BEST avalanche education!

The lowest instructor to student ratio anywhere.

Best preparatory courses for aspirant professionals.

Gain the confidence to ride those steep lines you dream about.

"Top notch Avalanche education from a top notch educator right in your backyard boise! Boise has been needing this for a looooong time."

Greg Call, Professional Photographer

"This guy is a phenomenal instructor and this is a great opportunity to learn about snow."

Dave Bingaman, Avalanche Forecaster

"I learned more during my Avalanche Level 2 course with Chago than in the previous 15 years of backcountry skiing."

Michael Lanza, Creator of TheBigOutside.com

"Chago combines his PhD level snow science background with his deep passion for skiing and people to deliver education that you will not forget. It's not often that courses are as enjoyable as they are educational. Highly recommended!"

Vince Boelema - Ski Instructor and staff trainer. Sem Walls - Ski Instructor Examiner and New Zealand National Demo Team

Skiing with Chago is like purchasing a BMW. You know you are going to be safe and have style"

Ryan Burr - Elementary School Teacher

I just finished a course with these guys. Very passionate and great instruction.
Mores Creek Summit is definitely a hidden treasure you’d get to explore as an added bonus.

Ryan Bentley - Program Manager at Youth Dynamics Adventures and Soldier Mountain Ski Patroller

Chago connected sub-nanometer phenomena (shape and properties of water molecules) through millimeter scale (sintering, faceting) to explain what triggers an avalanche hundreds of meters in size. This was fascinating.

Brendan Flynn - Completed Avi L1 during his first 3-days of Backcountry Skiing ever!

Chago was fun to work with and gave me instructions that made me feel confident and aware.

Lucy Hedges - Completed Introduction to Safe Travel In Avalanche Terrain and Avalanche Rescue Course

"Chago is a great mountain guide. He knows a lot about snow, is very nice and interesting and give you good tools to analyze the terrain." Laureline Magnin, project manager in sustainable development

Laureline Magnin, Sustainable Development Manager, Geneva-Switzerland

Learn about safe terrain travel.

while skiing terrific pow at Avalanche Science unique course venues!

Learn about trip planning

with Avalanche Science's market leading BITACORA field book and methodology based in Situational Awareness - the GOLD standard in the Aviation Industry

Learn about snow crystals development.

Prepare yourself to be "facetnated" by down-to-earth explanations from a snow researcher!

Develop impecable snowpit craftsmanship

through mentorship from a seasoned avalanche proffesional

I highly recommend Chago's class. I felt really lucky to be able to take a class from him so close to Boise. The class was really thorough and he takes pride in making sure that you have the tools and the knowledge to be safe in the backcountry.

Paul Whitworth, Prestige Skateboards Shop, Boise

I would highly recommend Avalanche Science's Level 1 course for those looking to get into the backcountry for the first time as well as experienced backcountry navigators.

Drew Dodson, Boise Weekly Reporter

I am incredibly happy that I took my Level 1 with Avy Science. The small class size, quality course material rooted in data and facts, and an instructor passionate about snow science and avalanche education put this course above all others

Robby Milo, IT Specialist

Chago was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate. It is hard to not engage with the material when the instructor cares that much

anonymous

Chago knows his material and has been studying avalanche science for many years. This experience shows in his avalanche classes as he explores different hazards on different terrain, changing weather impacts on snowpack, and rescue strategies.

anonymous

As an avid backcountry user, it was nice to capitalize on the knowledge of Chago and Nico to get an in-depth understanding of the snowpack. Instead of just testing for whether something was stable or not, understanding what was going on during the test to make a slope stable or not was a huge takeaway for me.

Patrick

Chago is one of the best instructors I have had in any type of field class. I say this because he is passionate about the information and material he is teaching. Sharing that passion was inspirational, and it made the class fun and the material easy to understand.

Ben Luedtke

Great teachers explain the "why", not just the "what". This allows willing students to immediately comprehend and commit material to memory. Chago is this kind of instructor! He understands snow at a level that allows him to answer detailed questions and discuss theory. And when you combine his teaching skills with his passion for snow sport, the learning is indelible and the fun paramount! I'd gladly take another course or pay for a guided trip with either instructor any day.

Katie Peterson

Avalanche Science Guides

Chago Rodriguez - Bryan Biggs - Pedro Rodriguez

Josh Butler - Jon Williams - Taavi Zoller

Aiden McLain - Sadie Martin - Jack Simonds

Mike Hamilton - Treone Cooley - Jamie Markosian

Jimmy Tart - Evan Williams - Roby Surabian

Hans-Peter Marshall (HP)

Santiago (Chago) Rodriguez

Avalanche Science Founder and POW Guide.

Avalanche educator since 1996. 

Avalanche and Snow Scientist at the CryoGARS group - Boise State University.

Chago's passion is to ride pow with friends and clients!

Avalanche Science Guides

Avalanche Science is passionate about your FUN factor ... learn while skiing pow!

Avalanche Courses that that will ignite your fervor for exploring the backcountry!

Locations and dates of courses are carefully selected to offer course participants with the best snow and riding conditions.  Our unique small class size allow us to provide a unique personalized learning experience and easily satiate your hunger for high quality backcountry touring.

Avalanche Education Redefined

Avalanche Science's courses are designed for people seeking complete instruction and preparation for traveling safely in avalanche terrain, including backcountry skiers and riders, as well as snowmobilers. Participants will learn about decision-making, situational awareness, risk assessment, and the fundamental physics behind snow metamorphism—why avalanches happen.

Avalanche Education Redefined

Avalanche Education Redefined

Effectiveness of the instruction is enhanced by limiting lectures and field work to very small group sizes of six participants per course.

Avalanche Education Redefined

Avalanche Science courses consist of four hours of online instruction, eight hours of lecture by an expert snow scientist, and 20 hours of field work amid some of the best backcountry glades skiing found anywhere. 

Media

PBS Terra Documentary of Avalanche Science Research at Mores creek Summit

Go to 4:10 minute mark for the start of Avalanche Science and BSU research activities at Mores Creek Summit

Boise Weekly

Boise Weekly

French TV: Islande, Echappées Belles

DIARI D'ANDORRA

Avalanche Science LLC Headquarters

951 E Front St

Boise, Idaho 83712

208-473-6532

info@avyscience.com

chago@snowgeek.org

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