DATE: NOVEMBER 25, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Doug Abromeit, Director, National Avalanche Center 208-622-5371

Trish Murphy, Project Coordinator, 801-524-4562

27 PEOPLE KILLED BY AVALANCHES IN PAST 10 MONTHS--13 ARE SNOWMOBILERS: FOREST SERVICE PRODUCES VIDEO AIMED AT SNOWMOBILER SAFETY

KETCHUM, IDAHO.....Twenty-seven people including thirteen snowmobilers were killed by avalanches in the United States this past winter.

According to the Forest Service's National Avalanche Center Director Doug Abromeit (ABRO- MITE), "The past five years more snowmobilers have been killed in avalanches than any other recreation group."

The Forest Service and the State of Idaho are very concerned about this developing trend. In response, the Forest Service National Avalanche Center, located in Ketchum, Idaho, and Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation produced a 30-minute avalanche awareness video tape designed for the snowmobile community.

The video, "Riding Safely in Avalanche Country," was produced with grants from the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and the Bruder Foundation of Canada and many volunteer hours from Idaho snowmobilers.

The video teaches riders how to identify hazardous terrain and snowpack instability, perform snow stability tests, make good decisions, and carry out a fast and effective avalanche rescue. The educational sections are integrated with exhilarating footage of avalanches and snow machines at play.

"I encourage everyone who goes snowmobiling in the mountains to see this video, it's a 30-minute investment that could save a life." said Trish Murphy, the video project coordinator.

Abromeit attributes the increase in snowmobiler fatalities to dramatic advances in the power, weight and traction of snowmobiles. "This allows snowmobilers to easily access dangerous avalanche terrain, especially following snowstorms," said Abromeit. "We are seeing snowmachine tracks in country we have never seen them in before. In addition, snowmobiles can cover 100 times the amount of terrain that a skier can in a day which dramatically increases the odds of getting in trouble."

All proceeds from this video go to fund avalanche education for the snowmobile community. The video is available through the Friends of the Sun Valley Avalanche Forecast Center, c/o Environmental Resource Center, PO Box 819, Ketchum, ID 83340 , or Department of Natural Resources Bookstore, 1594 W. North Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah and many local snowmobile retail shops in the US and Canada. Retailers can contact Western Power Sports, 800.799.3388 for purchasing The cost is $15.95 per copy. Information is also available via the internet - nac@sunvalley.net or on the worldwide web; www.avalanche.org.