Free Avalanche Awareness Class

[Marty Lowe]

If you have never taken an avalanche awareness class,
You have no idea what is lurking in the snow we all play in.
The classes at the Snowkite Sumit the last two years have been an eye opener for me.
Do your family and friends a favor, attend one sometime.

-Marty

http://utahavalanchecenter.org/free_ava ... s/111708_0

Free Avalanche Awareness Class
Start: 12/23/2008 - 6:00pm
End: 12/23/2008 - 9:00pm

Location: Jim Santy Auditorium 1255 Park Avenue, Park City
Avalanche Awareness class designed for skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, and snowmobilers of all ages as an introduction to the backcountry and the phenomena of avalanches.

The price is FREE.

A $10 donation is suggested which will give you two chances to win items from a drawing. All proceeds go to the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center.

Call White Pine Touring for more info: 435 649 8710.

[john l]

This is definitely a worth while thing to attend for anyone who has never been to one. Can't recommend it enough.

Just talked with one of the Avalanche guys today in the office. They want to get one of their younger guys looking at areas that snowkiters frequent. He will most likely come talk to me after the holidays. They know that Skyline is a popular spot. I already mentioned that some kiters head out on sleds by Strawberry Res to get to spots away from the road. I haven't been to Monte to know if there is a lot of avalanche terrain there. Let me know if there are other spots in avalanche terrain that are getting a lot of use or if there are other issues you would like me to bring up.

They seem excited to provide info for the snowkite community. Very cool.
Also, for the guys that head out to different locations, you can post of snow pack conditions on their website at:
http://utahavalanchecenter.org/submitreport
They would be stoked to get snowpack info from new locations.

john l

[Marty Lowe]

Hey John,
At the Snowkite Sumit,
The avy guy for the LaSal Manti range was mostly thinking Ski/Snowboard/Sled.
The main point he took away from Snowkiting is that
We are mainly on the windward side of the Avalanche hazards.
Good thing for us.

The biggest problem would be wind shift from predominet direction.
i.e. Skyline on easterly winds, and kiters playing on east facing "Big Drift" areas.
Or backcountry on steeper slopes,
Or of course, sledding into backcountry locations.

Main thing is follow the Avalanche forecasts and know the dangers.

I would welcome any chance to become more aware of the hidden dangers.

Most of the backcountry locations I have been to with my sled for access,
are very close to the areas they already forecast, Monte Cristo, Western Uintah, and Skyline.
So I can't personally think of any other locations that need special forecasting,
but welcome any help/info we can get.

-Marty