Avalanche classes offered in Whitefish, Col. Falls

The Flathead National Forest, in partnership with Glacier Country Avalanche Center, is sponsoring two free basic avalanche awareness classes in Whitefish and Columbia Falls.

Both classes will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m.  

n Tuesday, Jan. 5 — The Wave in Whitefish

n Tuesday, Jan. 12 — Glacier Discovery Square in Columbia Falls.

The classes will include information and discussion on basic avalanche awareness and the weather, terrain, snowpack and human factors contributing to avalanche incidents, how to avoid them and what to do when an avalanche happens.

The class is an ideal yearly refresher or introduction to avalanche education.  

In addition, an advanced avalanche awareness class for skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers and mountaineers will be Jan. 4-16.

This class consists of four evening lectures on Jan. 4, 6, 11 and 13, followed by field sessions on Jan. 9 and 16.

The class includes information about avalanche terrain, mountain weather and snowpack, stability evaluation and decision making, and avalanche rescue.

Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions to gain maximum benefit. An advanced avalanche awareness class for snowmobilers will be held in late January and February.  

Registration is not required for any of the classes, but participants are encouraged to contact the Flathead National Forest at 758-5295 or visit www.glacieravalanche.org for more information.  

The Flathead National Forest issues avalanche advisories for Northwest Montana throughout the winter.

Advisories are issued Tuesday and Friday mornings until April.

Advisories include information about snowpack conditions, weather forecasts, and hazard evaluations.

Visit www.glacieravalanche.org or call 257-8402 for these advisories. Those traveling in the backcountry always needs to make their own time- and site-specific avalanche hazard evaluations.