Anyone who’s taken that first step into the backcountry–and anyone who wants to–should know of the Northwest Avalanche Center, the PNW’s avy forecasters and snow wizard extraordinaires. Now you can show your support for NWAC at their Snowball 2014 Fundraiser on November 19th at Seattle’s Nectar Lounge. The all-day event includes live music, beer drinking and socializing with fellow mountain-goers, and tickets can be found here for $25 dollars or $30 at the door. Make sure to bring a few extra dollars for the raffle–the prize lineup is impressive.

The Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC) is a collaborative effort between the US Forest Service Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center and the non-profit Friends of the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center. The mission of NWAC is to save lives and reduce the impacts of avalanches on recreation, industry and transportation in the Cascade and Olympic Mountains of Washington and northern Oregon through mountain weather and avalanche forecasting, data collection and education. Learn more and check out the newest forecast for your area at their website, www.nwac.us–it’s homepage-worthy.