Date: December 6, 2007
Contact: Barb Maynes, 360-565-3005
Olympic National Park, Olympic Mountain Rescue and the Port Angeles Winter Sports Club (a Port Angeles High School-based organization) will cosponsor an avalanche awareness workshop on Friday, December 14 at 7:00 p.m. at the Port Angeles High School library.
“With the Olympics’ steep terrain and heavy snow, avalanche awareness is critically important for anyone venturing beyond the ski area boundaries at Hurricane Ridge,” said Olympic National Park Superintendent Bill Laitner. “This program will give winter travelers vital information about how to avoid avalanches and how to self-rescue if they are caught by a snowslide. I encourage all snowboarders, skiers and snowshoers to participate in this workshop.”
The workshop will be led by Niko Weis, a well-known British Columbia-based avalanche professional. Weis works as an avalanche educator and consultant and is currently serving as an alpine safety and design consultant for a new ski resort in the Indian Himalayas.
People who travel outside the developed areas at Hurricane Ridge – including people who snowboard beyond ski area boundaries or ski or snowshoe to Hurricane Hill – should be aware that they are traveling through hazardous avalanche terrain. The workshop will focus on how to prepare for traveling in avalanche terrain, including proper equipment and the skills needed for self-rescue.
“Avalanche self-rescue skills are an absolute necessity for travel beyond Hurricane Ridge,” said Laitner.
For more information and directions to the Port Angeles High School library, people should contact Olympic National Park at 360-565-3004.
More about avalanche awareness.
