Thursday, November 29, 2012

Avalanche Danger, Risk Management, and How Did Things Go Wrong?

The Flathead Avalanche Center (FAC) will present a “special topics” avalanche safety program on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. Avalanche specialist Stan Bones will lead a discussion concerning avalanche risk management and decision making using the three fatal avalanche incidents that occurred last season on the Flathead National Forest as case studies.

Stan says, “Each and every fatal avalanche incident is a unique and sadly tragic event. If we fail to study and learn from what happened in the incident however, they become even larger tragedies and losses as we are destined to repeat them. And this even further cheapens and makes futile the initial loss of life.” The discussion will be held December 4th from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Flathead National Forest Office, 650 Wolfpack Way, in Kalispell.

In addition to the special topics presentation, the FAC is hosting an Advanced Avalanche Awareness class which is a free course and open to the public. No registration is needed. The 2013 classroom sessions will also be held at the Flathead National Forest office in Kalispell from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the following days:

Monday January 7th
Wednesday January 9th
Monday January 14th
Wednesday January 16th


The two field Sessions will be held at the Whitefish Mountain Resort from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the following days:

Saturday January 12th
Saturday January 19th

For additional information on avalanche education classes and avalanche conditions, please visit the new Flathead Avalanche Center website. You can also sign up to follow the center on Twitter. Avalanche advisories will start December 8th if conditions allow. The phone number to call for recorded avalanche advisories remains the same: 406-257-8402.

For additional information please contact FAC coordinator Tony Willits at 406-837-7546.


Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park

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