Articles

I can't believe this is happening.  I watch my friend ski a beautiful line, but the slope avalanches in slow motion.  It swallows him from behind and I can't see him.  I scream, "Avalanche!", but I don't know if he heard me.  He's buried.  I know it.  

Knowing the tools and skills of safe travel in avalanche terrain is an essential component of making informed decisions in this environment. These tools include having rescue gear and knowing how to use it, understanding avalanche terrain, recognizing signs of instability and making smart choices.

The agility and power of today's snowmobiles allow riders to easily access avalanche terrain with a speed and thrill that makes it easy to overlook noticeable sings of snow instability. Paying attention to clues of instability and knowing how to react to them is a sizeable advantage in staying safe while riding in the backcountry.

Sidecountry is defined as out-of-bounds, backcountry terrain that is accessed from a ski area. The ski lifts make getting to the backcountry easier for everybody and more accessible to the uninitiated, but does not provide any more safety since there is no avalanche control or ski patrol services in the out-of-bounds.

Heading out for a day in the hills is easy and rewarding unless we overlook a few simple preparations that if not practiced routinely can result in drastic consequences.

Last year the GNFAC taught 62 avalanche education classes to more than 4,300 people in southwest Montana.   Grade school and graduate students, skiers and snowmobilers, search and rescue groups, ski patrols, Rotary clubs and businesses attended classes, all there for the same thing-to learn about avalanches.  During Q&A sessions many people asked questions. Here's an attempt to answer the most common ones.

Snowfall in the first days of October brought out famished skiers drooling with hunger for powder.  They skied, hit rocks and even triggered a few avalanches.      

While a beacon, probe and shovel have been the standard for years, a fourth item is emerging: the avalanche air bag.

Shop for avalanche safety gear this year! Merry Christmas to the skier on your list!

Forecasters for Consumerism!

See attached pdf for full article.

Some concern joins the excitement over the new lift at Schusman's Bowl at Bridger.