Avalanche danger discussions to be held Dec. 4

The Flathead Avalanche Center will present a avalanche safety program at the Flathead National Forest Office, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, on Dec. 4 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Avalanche specialist Stan Bones will lead a discussion concerning avalanche risk management using the three fatal avalanche incidents that occurred last season on the Flathead National Forest as case studies. 

“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.”

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, Jan. 7

• Wednesday, Jan. 9

• Monday, Jan. 14

• Wednesday, Jan. 16

The 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 19.

For additional information on avalanche education classes and avalanche conditions, visit the new Flathead Avalanche Center website at http://www.flatheadavalanche.org. FAC is also on Twitter at http://twitter.com/FACAvalanche. Avalanche advisories will start Dec. 8 if conditions allow.

For recorded avalanche advisories, call 257-8402. For additional information contact FAC coordinator Tony Willits at 837-7546.