Another impressive lineup of professionals and skilled winter backcountry enthusiasts is appearing at this year’s Northern Rockies Avalanche Safety Workshop in Whitefish.
The second annual gathering is Oct. 13 at the Grouse Mountain Lodge. Tickets are $20 beforehand and $25 at the door.
This year’s event features six speakers from various backgrounds and with extensive avalanche expertise.
“It’s great to be able to bring this workshop to Whitefish for a second year,” Ted Steiner, NRASW chairman, said in a statement.
“The workshop is about learning, networking, seeing old and making new friends. It’s also a time to remember that winter is on the way, get excited about getting outside, and most importantly, remember we need to be safe and educated when traveling the backcountry. We need to come home to our families and enjoy season upon season of future winter endeavors.”
The workshop will feature Karl Birkeland, founder of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center in Bozeman; Scott Savage, an avalanche forecaster for Big Sky Resort in Montana; LeeAnn Allegretto, the Avalanche Program Leader for the Missoula National Weather Service; Elyse Saugstad, a professional skier from Girdwood, Alaska; Christopher Robinson, a Navy SEAL from 2003-04 with assignments that dealt with stressful group dynamics and excelled in decision making methods to optimize performance and survival; and Dale Atkins, who has more than 30 years of experience as an avalanche expert, rescuer, forecaster, researcher and educator.
The full schedule for the workshop can be found online, http://www.avalanchesafetyworkshop.com.