Avalanche awareness classes slated

The Flathead Avalanche Center will present a “special topics” avalanche safety program on Tuesday, Dec. 4, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Flathead National Forest Office, 650 Wolfpack Way, in Kalispell.

Avalanche specialist Stan Bones will lead a discussion concerning avalanche risk management and decision making using as case studies the three fatal avalanche incidents that occurred last season on the Flathead Forest.

“Each and every fatal avalanche incident is a unique and sadly tragic event,” Bones said. “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 Flathead Avalanche Center also will host free Advanced Avalanche Awareness classes at the Flathead Forest office in Kalispell from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 7; Wednesday, Jan. 9; Monday, Jan. 14; and Wednesday, Jan. 16. No registration is needed. Two field sessions will be held at the Whitefish Mountain Resort from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12, and Saturday, Jan. 19.

For more information on avalanche education classes and avalanche conditions, visit online at www.flatheadavalanche.org or follow the center at http://twitter.com/FACAvalanche. Avalanche advisories will be posted starting Dec. 8 if conditions allow. To record avalanche advisories, call 406-257-8402.