Introduction In the time since I was first invited to write this article, several snowmobiling avalanche incidents have occurred, including the first U.S. avalanche fatality of the 1996-97 season, in Utah. Many of these incidents could be easily avoided with a bit of awareness and a few basic precautions. Therefore, in this article I will emphasize awareness and precaution, rather than delve into snow science and snow stability evaluation. It Could Be You, or …showed first 75 words of 2088 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2088 total…you've located the buried person, you have to dig him or her out. So be sure everyone in the group carries a shovel. You can carry a shovel and a collapsible probe under the hood of a machine, and it's a good idea for each machine to be so equipped. But do not put the beacon there--the search will be for the rider, not the machine. Work by: Jim Frankenfield Cyberspace Snow and Avalanche Center