Ski Patrol’s third annual Eagle County Avalanche Awareness Series begins Dec. 15

The Vail and Beaver Creek Ski Patrols will kick off the third annual Eagle County Avalanche Awareness Series on Monday, Dec. 15 from 7-9 p.m. at the Vail Cascade Resort in a continued effort to educate the community about snow and avalanche safety.

The Vail and Beaver Creek Ski Patrols collaborate to deliver relevant, meaningful and current information and expert advice about backcountry and avalanche awareness at this season’s series. The first night will focus on an introduction to avalanche basics; the Colorado Avalanche Information Center and other available resources; human factors and “heuristic traps”; and opportunities for professional training.

“We place the highest value on the safety of our guests and employees; it’s critical to the experience of a lifetime we deliver every day on Vail Mountain,” said Elizabeth Howe, Vail Mountain’s senior director of mountain operations. “The ski area boundary and access points are meant to provide clear messaging to direct guests who want to enjoy the inbounds experience as well as for skiers and snowboarders choosing the out-of-bounds experience. If you are seeking an out-of-bounds experience, it’s your responsibility to be prepared and we feel that the Eagle County Avalanche Awareness Series can contribute to that preparedness.”

Prior to the session start at 7 p.m., complimentary food and soft drinks from Vendetta’s will be provided, while supplies last. The Vail and Beaver Creek Ski Patrols and sponsors including Backcountry Access, Apex Mountain School, Friends of CAIC (Colorado Avalanche Information Center), Paragon Guides, Weston Snowboards and many more will also have information, gear, raffles and giveaways on site.

The event is free to the community and complimentary parking is available in the Vail Cascade parking structure. Overflow parking will be available on the north side of the South Frontage Road adjacent to the Vail Cascade Resort.

The second and third sessions of the 2014-2015 Eagle County Avalanche Awareness Series are scheduled to take place on Monday, Jan. 26 and Monday, Feb. 16, also at the Vail Cascade from 7-9 p.m.

The Eagle County Avalanche Awareness Series is brought to the community by the Vail and Beaver Creek Ski Patrols and is made possible by the generous support of sponsors such as Backcountry Access, the Vail Cascade Resort & Spa, National Ski Patrol, CAIC, Weston Snowboards, Paragon Guides, Vendetta’s, the U.S. Forest Service, Kind Design, Boar’s Head and more.

For more information about the Eagle County Avalanche Awareness Series please contact Vail Ski Patrol at (970) 754-4610 or visit the Vail Ski Patrol Facebook page at www.facebook.com/vail.skipatrol.

For more information about Vail Mountain visit www.vail.com, or stop by the Mountain Information Center, open daily from 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. beginning Friday, or call (970) SKI-VAIL (754-8245).