Federal Exemptions Revive Hiring for Avalanche Forecasters Amid Broader Freeze

Avalanche forecasters across the Mountain West are seeing relief as the US Forest Service has granted them an exemption from a federal hiring freeze that initially threatened to leave key forecasting positions unfilled, Wyoming Public Media reports.

The move comes after extensive advocacy from outdoor recreation groups and other stakeholders who emphasized the public safety risks of reduced avalanche forecasting coverage.

Earlier this fall, the Forest Service announced a pause on hiring seasonal workers due to a budget shortfall. This hiring freeze extended to numerous roles, including avalanche forecasters, whose work involves assessing snowpack stability and issuing vital public safety advisories.

At the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center in Jackson, Wyoming, at least two forecaster positions were at risk. Hilary Eisen, Policy Director at the Winter Wildlands Alliance, highlighted the potential impact of such reductions.

“That was going to translate to either a reduced forecast coverage area [or] fewer forecasting days,” Eisen said. “If something like that gives, then that has an immediate public safety impact.”

Thanks to concerted lobbying from more than 40 advocacy groups, including Eisen’s organization, the Forest Service ultimately allowed exemptions for avalanche forecasters and certain other essential roles, like temporary wildland firefighters. As a result, avalanche forecasting centers across the country are now nearly fully staffed.

While the exemption provides short-term relief, it is not a permanent fix. Eisen described it as the most uncertain time for avalanche forecasters in four decades. The hiring freeze, she argues, is a symptom of a broader funding issue that needs to be addressed.

“There’s a lot of work to be done still on not just getting exemptions to the hiring freeze, but addressing the underlying issue of the hiring freeze,” she said.

The financial strain on the US Forest Service is not a new development. According to Eisen, Congress has underfunded the agency for decades. The total budget for avalanche forecasting centers in the country’s seven Forest Service regions is just $2.5 million. This limited budget hampers the ability to expand forecasting coverage or establish new avalanche centers in underserved areas like eastern Idaho, even as outdoor recreation grows in popularity.

Without additional funding, the risk remains that vacated forecaster positions may go unfilled if workers retire or leave. Eisen has called on Congress to prioritize funding for the Forest Service’s recreation, heritage, and wilderness program, which encompasses avalanche centers. Her organization is pushing for $70 million to be appropriated for this program in the upcoming fiscal year.

While avalanche forecasters and temporary firefighters received exemptions from the hiring freeze, other seasonal Forest Service workers were not as fortunate. Workers who maintain trails, clean campground facilities, and perform other essential outdoor tasks remain subject to the freeze. This has led to concerns about the long-term ability of the Forest Service to manage its recreation infrastructure.

Congress has yet to pass a budget for the 2025 fiscal year, with a deadline of December 20 to avoid a government shutdown. Advocates like Eisen are urging lawmakers to increase funding to support the Forest Service’s workforce and protect public safety in outdoor recreation areas.