Avalance course creates awareness

    An avalanche awareness course will be conducted from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, January 12, in Room 278 of the Biology and Natural Resources building. The course, which is normally $50, is a free service to USU students and is sponsored by the Outdoor Recreation Program (ORP), formerly known as the Outdoor Recreation Center.

    “We want students to discover the incredible outdoors of the Bear River area,” said ORP assistant coordinator Ryan Diehl.  “This class will give winter travelers the first basic steps to staying safe.” 

    Many travelers, according to Diehl, can have a dangerous “ignorance is bliss” attitude while skiing or traveling in an undeveloped area.

    According to the Utah Avalanche Center, the popular local sports of snowboarding, skiing, and snowmobiling have accounted for 83 percent of Utah avalanche fatalities since 2005.

     “It is important to know before you go, and this is a great starting place for that,” said Brian Shirley, ORP project coordinator.    

    The class, instructed by Dr. Mike Jenkins, associate professor of the College of Natural Resources, will familiarize attendees with avalanche safety resources, knowledge of storm cycles, and the times of year for safe winter recreation.

    The ORP, located east of Romney Stadium, is a division of Campus Recreation whose mission is to connect USU students to their community and natural resources through non-motorized recreational pursuits. As a service to facilitate USU students’ access to the outdoors, the ORP provides outdoor classes, trips and activities, along with, outdoor gear and guide book rentals.