Posted:
Aug 26, 2008 @ 12:00 am

Early (way early) Season News

Good afternoon. This is Dudley Improta with the West Central Montana Avalanche Center. It’s August, but ski equipment guides are already on the shelves. The very good news is the Lolo National Forest has agreed to add another advisory each week to the Center. This means an updated advisory will come out on Friday morning and on Monday morning for the 08/09 season. A lot of credit has to go to folks with the West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation who worked so hard to raise money to support this extra advisory. Also businesses who supported the website and bought ads and the donors deserve credit as well. Now the Foundation will be raising funds to continue the advisories, the educational offerings and build avalanche beacon parks in the area. Tentatively the first park will go on Forest Service land at Lolo Pass. Look for information on the Burning Dog Pray for Snow Festival at Big Sky Brewery the evening of October 17. But, it ‘s ok to start praying before the Festival.

READ FULL ADVISORY  

This information is the sole responsibility of the Forest Service and does not apply to operating ski areas. The avalanche danger rating expires at midnight tonight but the information can help you make a more informed decision regarding travel in avalanche terrain for the next few days.

Our advisory area includes National Forest System lands in the Bitterroot Mountains from Lost Trail Pass north to Granite Pass, the Rattlesnake Mountains north of Missoula and the Southern Swan and Mission Mountains near Seeley Lake, MT. Avalanche information for the Lookout Pass/St. Regis Basin area is available from the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center.