Powder Pro Lab offers avalanche education, backcountry programs at all levels

This story originally written by Ella Slade appeared in The Leadville Herald on November 29, 2025.

At Leadville outdoor education facility Powder Pro Lab, outdoor enthusiasts of all skill levels can engage in hands-on classroom instruction, backcountry education and guided experiential learning in the high Rockies of the San Isabel National Forest.

Powder Pro Lab was built on the mission of providing the outdoor community with training and equipment to recreate safely and responsibly in the backcountry and alpine terrain. For Keith Hadyk, who co-founded Powder Pro Lab alongside Jennifer Phillips, central Colorado proved to have plenty of winter motorized travelers, with no avalanche education or backcountry rider programs truly designed for motorized users or athletes.

Hadyk graduated from the avalanche science program at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville and said he immediately fell for its charm, a close match to his hometown in the Adirondacks.

“Having developed a professional career in the snow safety industry through deep threaded involvement and experience in emergency response, as a professional athlete and avalanche educator,” he said, “I reached a point that I felt passionate and ready to establish the mountain education center and team, Powder Pro Lab, and Cloud City became the cornerstone of this ability to share our mission.”

At Powder Pro, a beginner can expect to gain fundamental knowledge, along with basic rider skills in the full-day course. Courses are designed to develop confidence getting into and out of the backcountry, Hadyk said, while utilizing zones with groomed trail access directly to ideal off-trail learning areas.

More advanced participants have custom learning options with coached feedback from a local professional backcountry guide in challenging to complex terrain, and aim to make progress in technical riding and backcountry skills.

“We have a well-equipped team of professional coaches, athletes and certified instructors that are well-suited to meet the needs of mostly any client and or student,” he said. “Our permitted areas throughout Buena Vista and Leadville have terrain suited for every ability level from beginners to experts.”

The educational courses offered at Powder Pro are designed to empower snowmobilers and riders of all abilities to explore farther and safer in the winter backcountry.

“Getting people out there for the very first time always hits home for all of us here, and we cherish any experience we get to share with those expanding their adventures in nature for the first time,” Hadyk said.

An avalanche education course at the facility is delivered over three days with one full classroom day. The classroom focuses on student engagement, using a variety of learning methods like didactic presentations, group activities, discussions and exercises that develop skills such as forecasting and navigation. Students then spend the two field days learning group travel techniques, risk management strategies, terrain identification and snowpack assessment. Instructors provide demonstrations, field lesson plans and opportunities to practice and implement newly developed skills with coached feedback, all while experiencing the Colorado terrain.

“Students and participants complete our programs with greater confidence as riders and prepared team members for backcountry adventures,” he said.

Powder Pro Lab is an A3 recognized provider and certified AIARE motorized provider, offering premier avalanche safety training and backcountry education throughout central Colorado. The organization has also been recognized by the American Avalanche Association as an official avalanche education provider for recreational level certification courses that adhere to the national standards.

As in any successful organization that works in a high-risk environment, defining and upholding core principles is essential, Hadyk said, noting two of Powder Pro’s core principles, safety and progression.

Safety is the primary pillar of concern for how programs operate for the sake of clients, staff and the general public, Hadyk continued, along with the ability as professionals to exemplify the importance of safety and risk management in the backcountry culture.

“Progression allows us to implement industry best practices and add value to them throughout our companywide experience and high standards,” he added.

Hadyk said progression is essential for the team of certified and trained professionals at Powder Pro to provide ample experiential learning opportunities throughout the avalanche program and backcountry rider program.

“We have embedded these throughout our program standards, operational requirements, work culture and our outlook to establish a well-respected and trusted organization that provides a platform for those beginning their outdoor journey to those training to become professionals,” he said.

The team at Powder Pro brings a variety of experiences and backgrounds to the table, both as educators and as professionals.

“We are strong believers that a team thrives when each member has a standing and can be responsible to provide insight and direction in regards to a particular department or area of expertise,” Hadyk said. “This allows each member to excel, and provides an environment to take the lead when appropriate, thus leading to a dynamic work culture that keeps it professional, productive and fun.”

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“Powder Pro Lab offers avalanche education, backcountry programs at all levels”