Snow poses risk of avalanches

SANDPOINT - Above-average mountain snowfall certainly makes the area's many skiers and snowboarders happy, but it also puts outdoors lovers at a greater risk of encountering an avalanche.

Five inches of fresh snow on New Year's Day put Schweitzer's snow total up to 150 inches, exactly half of the mountain's 300-inch yearly average. With more than three months left in the ski season, the 2008-2009 winter could end up an historic snow year in the region.

While they welcome the abundance of fresh snow, Schweitzer officials are working overtime to mitigate the added dangers associated with excess snow.

"The huge accumulations of snow have caused challenges for our patrol crews, but they have worked hard to get our steepest bowl terrain open while minimizing risks," said Dave Kulis, Schweitzer's sales and marketing director. "The only area left to open is Lakeside Chutes in the Outback Bowl. Guest and employee safety is always our biggest concern, and you can be assured that our open terrain has met the seal of approval from our professional patrol."

Schweitzer's experienced avalanche crews use numerous techniques to maintain relative safety throughout the resort's in-bounds terrain, but the same cannot be said for most of the area's other mountains.

Avalanche conditions on the Selkirk and Cabinet Mountains are rated high on all wind-loaded aspects greater than 30 degrees above 5,000 feet, according to the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center.

"First, brutal cold assaulted our snow and gave us very weak base conditions.  Next, rapidly accumulating snow piled on this weak base layer which resulted in some isolated natural and human triggered avalanches. Seems now we will see a combination of heavy snow accumulation and strong winds out of the west/southwest," IPAC's Kevin Davis said in a Jan. 1 avalanche advisory.

Because avalanche conditions are fluid, Davis advises all backcountry travelers to be prepared to assess current conditions for themselves, plan their routes of travel accordingly and never travel alone.

Backcountry travelers should also carry the necessary avalanche rescue equipment such as a shovel, avalanche probe or probe ski poles, a rescue beacon and a well-equipped first aid kit, Davis said.