Mount Washington Avalanche Center Mission:
The Mount Washington Avalanche Center works to reduce the risk and impact of avalanches in the White Mountains through accurate forecasting, public education, search & rescue, and collaborative knowledge sharing.
Mount Washington Avalanche Center Vision:
We envision a community of backcountry users who are aware of avalanche risk and mountain hazards, make informed decisions, and return home safely.
Search and Rescue
The U.S. Forest Service holds primary responsibility for search and rescue operations in the Cutler River Drainage of the White Mountain National Forest, including Tuckerman and Huntington Ravines, from December 1 to May 31. As part of this responsibility, the Mount Washington Avalanche Center maintains 24/7 readiness to coordinate and respond to emergencies, working closely with volunteer mountain rescue teams, partner agencies, and local emergency services. While the Center’s primary mission is avalanche forecasting and public safety education, its staff also serve as first responders and assume Incident Command roles during incidents in this demanding backcountry terrain.
Staff
Jeff Fongemie, Director
With over three decades of experience in mountain travel and safety, Jeff serves as the Director of the Mount Washington Avalanche Center. His expertise includes snow science, avalanche forecasting, and technical rescue systems.
Beyond his professional role, Jeff is dedicated to safety in the mountains. He has a longstanding history of volunteering with the Mount Washington Avalanche Center and the Mountain Rescue Service, contributing to search and rescue missions and improving avalanche forecasting techniques. Additionally, Jeff serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Wilderness and Austere Medicine Fellowship program, sharing his knowledge with upcoming professionals. He also holds positions as Vice President of the Mountain Rescue Service, Wilderness EMT, and is a member of the American Avalanche Association.
Patrick Scanlan, Avalanche Forecaster, Snow Ranger
Pat completed undergrad at the University of New Hampshire with a dual B.S. in Environmental Conservation and Kinesiology. He is currently picking away at an graduate degree in engineering and design from Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to joining MWAC, he spent time living in Bozeman, Montana, worked as the Hermit Lake Caretaker for two years, worked as a climbing guide, and led 6 years of global backcountry ski trips at a U.S. Ski and Snowboard Academy with young, high-level ski athletes. Patrick’s skiing and climbing resume is filled with personal and guided objectives in Chamonix, La Grave, Alaska, North Cascades, Rocky Mountains, and of course, the Whites. His mountain credentials include Professional Avalanche 1 & 2, AMGA Certified Ski Guide, AMGA Apprentice Rock and Alpine Guide, and Wilderness EMT. He formerly served as a Board Member for the White Mountain Avalanche Education Foundation and Friends of Tuckerman Ravine and he is a rescue technician for Mountain Rescue Service in North Conway.
Charlotte MacDonald, Avalanche Forecaster, Snow Ranger
Charlotte completed her undergrad in Virginia and received a B. A. from Washington and Lee University. Personal objectives and professional development have taken her into other snowpacks in the Rocky Mountains and Cascades as well as a lot of time spent in the Whites, Vermont, and the Adirondacks. Charlotte’s credentials include Professional Avalanche 1, Wilderness First Responder, Winter Weather Forecasting through the American Avalanche Institute, and an Instructor Training Course through the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education. When not on skis, Charlotte enjoys mountain biking and exploring the mountains on foot.