New Avalanche App Launched by Mines Staff for Winter Backcountry

GOLDEN, Colo. A new mobile application designed to improve avalanche safety in the backcountry launched this week at the Colorado School of Mines. The app, named SoGnar Snow, combines forecast data with group planning tools and interactive training games.

Austin Dyer, the university's director of outdoor recreation, created the tool to support students and visitors who spend time in the mountains. The school's outdoor recreation program offers low-cost equipment rentals for all four seasons. Dyer said the program exists to give students a break from coursework and a chance to practice or improve outdoor skills.

The application serves three main functions. It acts as an avalanche forecaster with data covering all of North America. Users can place a pin on a specific location to view the danger level for that zone. It also works as a crew organizer, allowing groups to align on goals, pace, skills, and gear. Finally, it includes seven interactive games that teach avalanche safety concepts.

Dyer noted the irony of using a digital app to encourage people to step away from their screens. He said getting outside helps counter the isolation that can come from long hours spent studying or working.

The release comes as meteorologists predict a heavy snow season. Lisa Hidalgo, a chief meteorologist for Denver7, stated that conditions are stacking up for an impressive amount of snowfall in the mountains. El Niño weather patterns could increase snowpack, particularly on western-facing slopes. This accumulation raises the potential for larger avalanches depending on wind and temperature factors.

Dyer emphasized that familiarity with rescue procedures is vital during emergencies. He said that spending more time with safety materials helps those steps become innate when a partner is buried. The goal of the app is to keep the backcountry community within Colorado safer.

The app is available for users to download and use as they plan winter trips. Dyer hopes the tool will help people prepare before they enter the field.