Cornice
control avalanche, Cariboo Mts., British
Columbia. Photo by Brad White, courtesy of avalanche.org
Deadly
Slides: In the last five
years, more people have died from avalanches in
North America than in any five year period on
record. The overwhelming majority of those who
make up this grim statistic are backcountry
adventurers: snowshoers, snowboarders skiers
and snowmobilers. Fortunately, education,
common sense and having the proper equipment can
help you to safely enjoy the backcountry.
Avy
Information:
Before
venturing out into the backcountry, be sure to check on
local snowpack and weather conditions. Here are
a few links:
Around
Northern California, check out the following schools and
lesson providers. Note that course offerings vary from
year to year and may not always be current. Contact
the providers for more information: