missoulaavalanche News Fall 2009
posted: October 13, 2009
Good afternoon. This is Dudley Improta with missoulaavalanche.org news for the upcoming winter. Actually the last week has felt pretty winter-like in Montana. The 2009/2010 snowpack is underway in the high elevations. I would like to draw your attention to some upcoming events and education opportunities.
This Friday the Burning Dog "Pray for Snow Party" is happening at Big Sky Brewery. This has turned into a major fundraiser for the West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation which helps fund the West Central Montana Avalanche Center; which is a lot of words for the advisories and education events that are put on in the name of missoulaavalanche.org.
Be sure to attend and tell your friends about Burning Dog as well as the Warren Miller movie in the Wilma on November 21, another fundraiser.
Then we will move ahead into full on winter with education events: 1-hour avalanche lectures, transceiver classes, Level 1 classes and workshops. Check the education and events section on missoulaavalanche.org.
Generally avalanche advisories will begin around mid-December or perhaps sooner depending on conditions. The Foundation has been working hard getting avalanche beacon parks for Lost Trail Pass and the top of Snowbowl Ski Area. The hope is these two parks will be functional this winter along with the park at Lolo Pass.
Enjoy the fall; look forward to winter.
Our advisory area includes the Bitterroot Mountains from Lost Trail Pass North to Lookout Pass, the Rattlesnake Mountains and the Southern Swan and Mission Mountains near Seeley Lake.
The West Central Montana Avalanche Center is hosted on the Lolo National Forest with support from the Bitterroot and Clearwater National Forests. The advisory content is the sole responsibility of the Forest Service and does not apply to operating ski areas. Avalanche specialists can be contacted by calling 406-329-3752 or by