As you may have heard there are some new faces at the Sawtooth Avalanche Center this winter. We added two new forecasters to the team as well as the Friends got a new executive director. Welcome them to the team as we are stoked to have them!
Zach Miller, Avalanche Specialist
Zach grew up getting rained on at Snoqualmie Pass in Washington and got plugged into snow science while at the University of Colorado. Digging snow hydrology pits on the always windy Niwot Ridge unintentionally kickstarted a career, and Zach has been working professionally in the snow and avalanche world ever since. His background includes ski patrolling at Solitude in Utah, avalanche course instructing in NW Montana, avalanche forecasting for the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park, completing a master’s degree from Montana State University in Earth Sciences and conducting snow science, mountain climate and glaciology research for the U.S. Geological Survey. When not digging holes in the snow, you’ll probably find him riding bikes or running or hiking with his old little dog, Blue.
Zach Peterson, Avalanche Specialist
Zach joined the SAC team in 2024. Born in Colorado and raised in western Montana, Zach found a love for the mountains at an early age. He took full advantage during his four years studying Economics at Montana State University, spending any spare moments skiing or snowmobiling in the mountains near Bozeman. Since 2018, Zach has spent his winters ski patrolling, ski-guiding, and teaching avalanche courses in the Beartooth Mountains. Also, he spent the 2023-24 season interning with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center. When not chasing snow on foot or machine, Zach likes exploring the mountains with his dogs, kayaking, or chasing endless winters in South America.
Cody Richmond, Executive Director
Friends of the Sawtooth Avalanche Center
Cody is a Wood River Valley native who brings a diverse set of skills to his leadership role with the Friends. Calling on a degree in Business Management with an emphasis in nonprofit management, Cody has served as the president of the Sawtooth Snowmobile Club and owned and managed a small business. He is a veteran commercial guide on the Middle Fork of the Salmon and pursues his passion for avalanche education as an AIARE (American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education) motorized instructor. Cody leads the Friends team to fulfill their mission: provide approximately half of the SAC’s budget while promoting life-saving avalanche safety information, education, and outreach throughout southern and central Idaho. To learn more about the Friends and how to support them, visit:
friends.sawtoothavalanche.com.