Crystal Mountains Forecasting Team – Crystal Mountain
Written by: Bradford Swanson & Caitlin Habenicht
Here at Crystal Mountain, the weather forecasting team plays a crucial role in snow safety and Avalanche Mitigation. Their work is backed by precise, automated data collection from various weather stations on the mountain, the highest being at 6230 feet and lowest at 4540 ft.
These forecasters utilize data from three key weather boards that monitor snow and water metrics: the Manual 24-Hour board, the Storm board, and the Shoot board. These boards track everything from total snow height to snow that hasn’t yet been compacted by skiers or mitigated with explosives. In addition to this automated information, the forecasters also rely on more hands-on data collection, including a volumetric cylinder that measures snow’s weight and water equivalent (SWE). Some of this data can be publicly accessed via the Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC), an organization that the Crystal forecasting team works closely with in order to better serve the greater backcountry skiing community.
Key players in this process include Brad Swanson, Robby Jost, and Mike Haft, with Mike taking the lead in running the weather and avalanche forecasting program this crew has 15 years combined of dedication. Their work requires not only technical expertise but a deep understanding of Crystal Mountain’s terrain, snowpack, and avalanche risks—an understanding developed through extensive avalanche education, experience, and mentorship. With around 250 potential avalanche slide paths on the mountain, accurate weather forecasting is critical for maintaining safety and guiding avalanche mitigation efforts.
On storm days this team is on duty at 2:45am, wrapping up by 6 p.m., collecting and analyzing data, and ensuring that skiers and riders can safely enjoy the slopes. The insights they provide not only inform avalanche control but are essential for the daily safety and enjoyment of the public on the mountain. When looking for storm totals, tracking and more tools that analyze our weather here at Crystal Mountain we recommend looking at NWAC’s Website along with staying up to date with our Mountain Report where the forecast is written daily along with updated snow reports throughout the day!
