Paige Pagnucco
Director, Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center
Utah's 4th Annual Avalanche Awareness Week is Upon Us!
Four years ago the Utah Legislature passed House Bill 380, which recognizes the first week of December as Avalanche Awareness Week. Join the Utah Avalanche Center and the Division of Outdoor Recreation to celebrate the Fourth Annual Avalanche Awareness week, from December 4 - December 11. The goal of this week is to ultimately save lives through activities that promote avalanche awareness, education, and safety. We have a variety of events to promote avalanche safety this week. See the list of events below to find one near you:
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UAC Avalanche Awareness Pre-season Safety Talk
Friday, December 2, 6pm
Moto United - South Valley, Draper
Join the UAC for a pre-season avalanche safety talk! We'll get you dialed in on all you need to know before heading into the backcountry.
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Level 1 Avalanche Course Refresher - Utah Mountain Adventures
Sunday, December 4
Salt Lake City
UMA's Level 1 Refresher is a single-day, field-based review of key Level 1 concepts and skills. Given that Avy 1 is such an intense, 24-hour download of information, it's wise to brush-up annually!
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UAC Avalanche Awareness Week Kickoff and Community Avalanche Rescue Practice
Monday, December 5, 4:30 - 7pm
Sugarhouse Park
1330 E 2100 S
Salt Lake City
Come kick off the 4th Annual Avalanche Awareness Week with the Utah Avalanche Center! In 2019, the Utah Legislature passed House Bill 380, which recognizes the first week of December as Avalanche Awareness Week. Join the UAC, Division of Outdoor Recreation, and numerous vendors and organizations that are involved in the snow and avalanche industry. We'll have FREE avalanche rescue practice! Come hone your rescue skills before the season gets going and the powder starts flying!
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Level 1 Avalanche Course - American Avalanche Institute
Monday, December 5 - Wednesday, December 7
Salt Lake City
An intro evening Zoom meeting (Dec. 5), two full field days (Dec. 6-7) plus self-paced online curriculum. This course will cover the basics of avalanche hazard awareness, terrain and stability assessment.
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UAC 19th Annual Pray for Snow Party and Fundraiser
Tuesday, December 6, 6-10pm
The Cache
Logan
Come celebrate the beginning of another fantastic season! We'll have a silent auction, live music from Two Headed Trout, beverages from Uinta, and pizza from Lucky Slice.
It's a great night filled with fun and friends in support of avalanche forecasting, education, and awareness.
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Know Before You Go Avalanche Awareness Presentation
Tuesday, December 6, 6 pm
Moab Arts and Recreation Center
111 E 100 N
Moab
Join the Utah Avalanche Center for a FREE presentation of the newly updated Know Before You Go Avalanche Awareness Program.
Know Before You Go is the first step in your journey through avalanche education.
The program introduces you to avalanche safety with some simple steps you can take to stay safe and have fun in avalanche terrain.
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Know Before You Go Avalanche Awareness Presentation
Tuesday, December 6, 7 pm
EVO
Salt Lake City
Join the Utah Avalanche Center for a FREE presentation of the newly updated Know Before You Go Avalanche Awareness Program.
Know Before You Go is the first step in your journey through avalanche education.
The program introduces you to avalanche safety with some simple steps you can take to stay safe and have fun in avalanche terrain. Details here.
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Level 1 Avalanche Course - The Backcountry Pros
Tuesday, December 6
Salt Lake City
Avalanche I (Low Ratio 4:1) - AAI. 2 hr evening Zoom session 7:00pm 12/06, field days 7:30am-5pm 12/07-12/18. American Avalanche Institute online learning module.
Practical skills application based course run by AMGA certified guides.
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Know Before You Go Avalanche Awareness Presentation
Wednesday, December 7, 7pm
USU ARC
Logan
Join Utah State University and the Utah Avalanche Center for a FREE presentation of the newly updated Know Before You Go Avalanche Awareness Program. Know Before You Go is the first step in your journey through avalanche education. The program introduces you to avalanche safety with some simple steps you can take to stay safe and have fun in avalanche terrain.
The evening will include community organizations and a panel discussion about real-life avalanche accidents. Details here.
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Know Before You Go Avalanche Awareness Presentation
Wednesday, December 7, 7 pm
Tucker High Adventure Tours
Beaver
Join the Utah Avalanche Center for a FREE presentation of the newly updated Know Before You Go Avalanche Awareness Program. Know Before You Go is the first step in your journey through avalanche education. The program introduces you to avalanche safety with some simple steps you can take to stay safe and have fun in avalanche terrain.
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UAC Intro Avalanche Rescue Course
Wednesday, December 7th
Cottonwood Canyons
This class is for skiers, snowboarders, snowmobilers, timbers-sledders snowbikers, hikers, snowshoers - anyone who goes into the backcountry in the winter. This course is designed as an introductory rescue course for those who are new to the backcountry. It can also serve as a refresher for those who do not regularly practice rescue skills or for someone looking to learn the most up-to-date rescue techniques and practices. For a complete listing of all UAC courses, click here.
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UAC Backcountry 201 Course
Wednesday, December 7th - Thursday, December 8th
Cottonwood Canyons
This class is for skiers & snowboarders who go into the backcountry in winter. It is designed as an introductory course for those who have prior basic knowledge and experience in the backcountry. This course can serve as a refresher for those who have previously taken formal avalanche courses and are looking to refresh their skills and learn the most up-to-date information and techniques. For a complete listing of all UAC courses, click here.
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Level 1 Avalanche Course - American Avalanche Institute
Wednesday, December 6 - Friday, December 9
Salt Lake City
An intro evening Zoom meeting (Dec. 7), two full field days (Dec. 8-9) plus self-paced online curriculum. This course will cover the basics of avalanche hazard awareness, terrain and stability assessment.
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Thursday, December 8, 7pm
Lone Pine Gear Exchange
Salt Lake City
Come join us for an informal discussion about current conditions, avalanche safety, decision-making, and more with UAC Forecaster Drew Hardesty. Drew has been working and playing in the mountains for decades and
always creates a thought-provoking and engaging environment so you learn not only the answers but the questions. The evening is FREE and open to anyone wanting to learn more about avalanches.
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Avalanche Rescue - Red River Adventures
Thursday, December 8
Salt Lake City
This 8 hour AIARE rescue course will be held in BCC or LCC based on snow conditions.
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Level 1 Avalanche Course - Utah Mountain Adventures
Thursday, December 8
Salt Lake City
Utah's most experienced & oldest guide service offers Avi Level 1 training over 4 days with 2 evening virtual lectures (4 hours each) and 2 field days (8-9 hrs). The Level 1 course is 60% in the field and 40% classroom work.
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Avalanche Skills Course - Utah Mountain Adventures
Friday, December 9 - Saturday, December 10
Salt Lake City
Introduction to avalanche awareness, rescue skills and avalanche beacon searches, route finding, snow pack evaluation and minimizing exposure to hazards.
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USU and UAC Beacon Clinic
Saturday, December 10, 10 am - noon
Beaver Mt Ski Area Base Area
Join the UAC and USU OP for a FREE beacon clinic. We'll teach you avalanche beacon basics - how and where to wear one, maintenance and care, sending a signal and searching for a signal, and more.
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UAC and LUNA Moab Winter Kickoff Party
Saturday, December 10, 7-9 pm
Moab Arts and Recreation Center
111 E 100 N
Moab
Join the Utah Avalanche Center and the Lower Utah Nordic Alliance in Moab for the 1st Annual Winter Kickoff Party and Fundraiser on Saturday, Dec 10th from 7:00-9:00 PM at The MARC. This event will support avalanche forecasting, education, and winter recreation in Southeast Utah. The ticket price includes two beers and two tickets for the opportunity drawing. Plus ski waxing and live music!
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Winter Weather Forecasting 102 - American Avalanche Institute
Saturday, December 10
Salt Lake City
This course will begin where the original Winter Weather Forecasting Course leaves off, and will include more advanced meteorological subjects, more mountain weather forecasting techniques, and more hands-on
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Avalanche Rescue - Prival
Saturday, December 10
Salt Lake City
AIARE 8 hour Avalanche Rescue at Prival Center Big Cottonwood Canyon
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Avalanche Awareness - Rescue Clinic - Prival
Saturday, December 10
Salt Lake City
Prival Avalanche Awarenss 1 online hour lecture and rescue clinic - 2 hour field practice at Prival Center in Big Cottonwood Canyon
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Level 1 Avalanche Course - American Avalanche Institute
Friday, December 9 - Sunday, December 11
Salt Lake City
An intro evening Zoom meeting (Dec. 9), two full field days (Dec. 10-11) plus self-paced online curriculum. This course will cover the basics of avalanche hazard awareness, terrain and stability assessment.
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Backcountry 101 - Utah Mountain Adventures__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sunday, December 11
Salt Lake City
Instruction in skinning, downhill technique on skis and snowboards and safe route-finding. Designed for participants with little or no experience in the backcountry. 100% field-based.
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Avalanche Rescue - Red River Adventures
Sunday, December 11
Salt Lake City
This 8 hour AIARE rescue course will be held in BCC or LCC based on snow conditions.