Backcountry skiers trigger avalanche near Mt. Rose

Three skiers in the Hourglass Bowl area on Tamarack Peak near Mt. Rose triggered a 600 foot long avalanche around 10:45 a.m. Thursday. Nobody was seriously injured though two of the party were slammed into trees and rocks according to the Sierra Avalanche Center.

Heavy new snow was falling rapidly at the time. The avalanche was about three feet deep and 200 feet wide.

A group of 4 or 5 were skiing in the area, with three of them involved in the slide. Two of the skiers lost their skis and another had a possible broken ankle.

Avalanches kill an average of 42 people each year in North America. To prepare backcountry enthusiasts with information needed to have a safe and enjoyable experience, the educational program "Know Before You Go," will be held at the University of Nevada and Sierra College campuses. These are a free avalanche awareness program. Not much science, no warnings to stay out of the mountains, no formulas to memorize. In one hour, you will see the destructive power of avalanches, understand when and why they happen, and how you can have fun in the mountains and avoid avalanches.

11/29 - UNR - Avalanche Awareness - Joe Crowley Student Union - Come join SAC and the UNR Winter Sports and Outdoor Adventure Clubs for a night of Avalanche Awareness. The event is from 6 to 9PM. Zach Tolby, from NOAA, will speak about mountain weather. Brant Moles is slated to cover risk management from an athlete's perspective, and Erin Laine will host a "Know Before You Go" (KBYG) film and presentation.

11/30 - Sierra Nevada College in the Tahoe Center for Environmental Science - The Sierra Nevada Freeride Club is hosting SAC Forecaster Andy Anderson and Pro Skier Extraordinaire Cody Townsend for a community avalanche awareness night. Join them from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm and enjoy presentations from Cody Townsend and SAC. There will even be a raffle with some cool prizes! This free event is open to the public and all knowledge levels are encouraged to attend. The contextual knowledge is invaluable to promote an avalanche aware community.

For more information on avalanches, films and fundraisers, visit the Sierra Avalanche Center website.