WINTER SPORTS — Like other commentary's on Sunday's avalanche fatalities in the North Cascades, my column today is getting some people to think and learn.

Other readers are reacting emotionally and telling writers and the experts we quote that we have no business analyzing avalanche incidents.

The people involved in the Stevens Pass avalanche tragedy were carrying equipment and using safety techniques that were adopted after experts had investigated previous accidents.

Skiers who enjoy the backcountry will add what they learn from Sunday's incidents in the Cascades to make their next outing safer.

No one is saying they shouldn’t do it.  Objective people are saying look, understand, learn.

• Start with this website of video avalanche tutorials.  “A Dozen More Turns” is a must see. It was made by the sister of an avalanche victim who saw the value in analyzing a tragedy so others might learn and live.
• Subscribe to the region's avalanche advisories. They're conveniently linked from a tabs on the S-R outdoors web page.
• View two video interviews: (1) Elyse Saugstad , who credits an avalanche airbag backpack for helping her survive the Stevens Pass avalanche, (2) KHQ-TV's Dave Cotton interviewing me on the lure of skiing backcountry.
• Read todays New York Times story on western avalanche fatalities this season.
• See my blog post with numerous links for more information about the Stevens Pass avalanche incident.
• Bookmark the website for avalanche.org, for authoritative discussion and links of avalanche awareness. 

WINTER SPORTS — Three people have died in an avalanche near Stevens Pass ski area, authorities say. Others who had been reported missing were accounted for today, the Seattle PI Online reports.

WINTER SPORTS — Storms helped the region's mountains catch up on precipitation in the past two weeks — as you can see from powder piled deep in this Selkirk Mountains sunrise photo iPhoned to me this morning by backcountry skier Alison Boggs.

But the snowpack also developed some weak layers, avalanche experts say.

Technicians from the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center observed natural avalanches during their Thursday survey and documented some persistent weak layers.

“Falling snow won't be a concern for a while, but the sun and rising temperatures could be,” said technician Kevin Davis. “Break out you're spring travel tricks if it's getting too warm or if we get inversions. Those crusts are becoming more of a concern as they continue to break down.”

Read on for the full advisory posted this morning, or click here to check out the center's new website under construction.

WINTER SPORTS — Today's avalanche advisory from the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center includes a lot of important details for anyone headed out of bounds to enjoy snow the recent storms have heaped on the backcountry. 

But no one should be surprised at the bottom line:  There's significant danger in many areas.

Heavy snowfall in the region has been acccompanied by high westerly winds. “In the mountains surrounding the Silver Valley and the St. Joe Mountains this has created unstable slabs in the new snow and also stressed an old weak layer from a Christmas surface hoar layer,” the report says.

“To the north the mountains have received slightly less snow but there are two weak layers to be cautious of. The avalanche danger will increase due to new snow and rising temperatures. ”

Read on for the entire report:

WINTER SPORTS — The Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center  began daily avalanche forecasting this week, and the season has started with a bang.

An avalanche watch went into effect last night as new snow has piled up in the Cascades and Olympics over the past few days, and more is on the way.

NWAC produces daily mountain weather and avalanche forecasts for the Olympics and Cascade Mountains from Mt Baker to Mt Hood. Backcountry recreationists and those crossing the mountain passes are encouraged to check the avalanche forecast before heading out into the mountains in the winter.

In the Inland Northwest, check the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center.