Bozeman-based Women of Winter’s goal is simple: Elevate and uplift all females who want to play, learn, and lead in the mountains.

Women of Winter started last year when the founder, Christeen Walch was inspired by the creative, talented women around her. She coaches skiing at the Yellowstone Club and the women in her locker room were up to amazing things, starring in a Warren Miller Ski film, wood burning and resin art, but more importantly, they were kind, wonderful women who supported each other.

Like most good ideas, the catalyst for the Women of Winter speaker series came unexpectedly. Founder Christeen Walch was catching up with two co-workers in the locker room after teaching a day of ski lessons at Montana’s Yellowstone Club. Sitting on one side of her was Francesca Pavillard-Cain, a professional skier who had just come back from filming in Chile with a Warren Miller crew.

Now, as the Head of Communications and DEI for Women of Winter, Gonzalez is seeking to provide the same feeling of belonging in the outdoors to other women. We sat down to chat with Alyssa about her experience as a scholarship recipient and how the course shifted her path to the mountains.

The organization Women of Winter today launched a scholarship opportunity available to women for an avalanche course in Big Sky.

Eight scholarships are available that will fully fund a three-day American Avalanche Association Avalanche Level 1 Certification course at Big Sky Resort. The Big Sky Avalanche Foundation for Education course is March 4-6, 2022.