BY KAREN BOSSICK
Learn just how many ski tracks it takes to reduce the risk of avalanche when the Sawtooth Avalanche Center presents three educational sessions this week.
- The Avalanche Center will offer a free Digging Deeper presentation at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, at Backwoods Mountain Sports in Ketchum.
Forecaster Scott Savage will discuss how ski traffic and compaction impacts stability. He will also talk about whether ski traffic makes slopes less likely to avalanche and, if so, how many tracks are enough.
- On Thursday, Jan. 16, a two-hour presentation “Intro to Avalanches” will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Wood River High School Performing Arts Theater on the Community Campus in Hailey. A $10 donation wouldn’t be turned down.
- On Saturday, Jan. 18, a field day for those wanting to learn hands-on techniques will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The class will be held on the snow at Sawtooth National Recreation Area headquarters seven miles north of Ketchum and near the top of Galena Pass.
It will cover avalanche rescue basics, snowpack layering, how to identify avalanche terrain and other concepts. There is a suggested $40 donation to cover instructor costs. Interested parties may sign up for the class at the Thursday night presentation.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR OTHER DIGGING DEEPER LECTURES:
Jan. 29--Deep Slab Cycle at The Elephant’s Perch in Ketchum
Feb. 12—Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain, Soldier Creek Brewing Company in Fairfield
Feb. 26—Using the Forecast for Backcountry Decision Making, Mountain Village in Stanley
March 11—Using the Forecast for Backcountry Decision Making at Idaho Mountain Touring in Boise
March 25—Ski Mountaineering and Spring Skiing, Ski Tek in Ketchum
April 8—Lost River Avalanche Recap at Sturtevants in Ketchum