24-25

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Winter has been on hold, but snow is in the forecast and we will be skiing and riding before we know it. Before your first day on the snow, take time to ensure your avalanche rescue gear is working properly and consider refreshing your avalanche skills with a class or two this season. See our </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/workshops/calendar"><span><span><span><stro… calendar</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><strong><span><span> </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>for a list of all local classes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Avalanches are not uncommon with the season’s first snowstorms, and have injured and killed people in past early seasons (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/accidents?page=3"><span><span><span><strong… reports</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). If you travel in the backcountry when there is snow on the ground, whether skiing, climbing or hunting, prepare for avalanches like you would mid-winter.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Carry a beacon, shovel and&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encylopedia/probe"><span><span><span><s… a minimum. Helmets are a necessity as well.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Travel one at a time in avalanche terrain (all snow covered slopes steeper than 30 degrees).</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Avoid steep slopes with fresh drifts of snow, especially where a slide could push you into rocks, trees or pile up deep in a confined gully.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Cracking and collapsing of the snow are bulls-eye information that the snow is unstable, and clear signs to avoid steep slopes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>As the snow piles up it is a good idea to dig to see the layers below the recent snow. Avoid steep slopes if you find weak, sugary snow underneath new snow or drifted snow.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
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