Avalanche Educational Courses: Know Before You Go

Utah avalanche, December 2020 Photo: Photo Courtesy of Peter Earle

WASATCH RANGE, Utah – There has been incredible demand for backcountry educational courses this season. The Utah Avalanche Center (UAC) recently announced a new round of available educational classes, and within 24 hours, every available spot in the Park City Avalanche Rescue Clinic was filled up. Some courses are still available in Salt Lake and Logan. Take a look at the available avalanche clinics and courses: UAC & Know Before You Go Classes

Through a partnership, White Pine Touring and Jans in Park City also offer avalanche courses and certifications. To learn more about what’s available or to book classes, visit Jans.com and and White Pine Touring’s classes.

Additionally, the American Avalanche Institute has a waitlist for this weekend’s scheduled Avy 1 course.

UAC experts, guides, and forecasters are trying to inform and educate as many backcountry skiers and snowboarders about the risks and procedures as they can to reduce avoidable tragedies.

Utah Avalanche Center Forecaster Nikki Champion recently said in an ABC News article: Safety issues mount as skiers hit backcountry in pandemic. She said, “We’re trying to effectively communicate the risks associated with avalanches to as many users as possible.”

The pandemic has brought more people than ever before into the backcountry, many of them novices. Purchases of avalanche gear have increased as well.  White Pine Touring employee Christopher Poepping told ABC News: “We’ve definitely seen an uptick in backcountry gear and that includes everything — beacons, shovels, probes, airbag systems.”

Education and awareness of one’s surroundings are crucial to helping to avoid the risks associated with backcountry recreation in avalanche terrain. This season’s snowpack is very sketchy and unstable. Stay safe; be sure to use precautions and all of the tools necessary when in the backcountry.