Forest Service Avalanche Center provides safety courses
MOUNT SHASTA, Calif. – The Forest Service Mount Shasta Avalanche Center, in its 13th year of operation, is offering free avalanche awareness and transceiver clinics.
Topics covered include recognizing snow and weather factors that create avalanche conditions, identifying avalanche terrain, understanding avalanche warning signs, what to do if you are caught in an avalanche and how to perform an immediate avalanche rescue within your group.
The avalanche center will host an avalanche awareness presentation 7 p.m., Nov. 19, at the Mount Shasta Ranger Station at 204 W. Alma Street. The center will hold a transceiver clinic 9 a.m., Nov. 20, at the Fifth Season, 300 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd.
Last winter was a big year for avalanches around the world, especially in North America, Europe and central Asia. The United States had its second highest number of avalanche fatalities in the last 60 years.
“Almost all of the avalanche accidents in the United States involve snowmobilers, skiers, snowboarders or climbers,” said Eric White, an avalanche specialist with the US. Forest Service at the Mount Shasta Avalanche Center. “They’re people out trying to have fun and then something tragic occurs.”
To learn about the Mount Shasta Avalanche Center, mountain weather information, avalanche information and this season’s education schedule, go to www.shastaavalanche.org or call 530-926-9613.
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