The Flathead Avalanche Center will present a “special topics” avalanche safety program on Tuesday, Dec. 4. 

Avalanche specialist Stan Bones will lead a discussion concerning avalanche risk management and decision-making using as case studies the three fatal avalanche incidents last season on the Flathead National Forest.

 “Each and every fatal avalanche incident is a unique and sadly tragic event,” Bones said. “If we fail to study and learn from what happened in the incident, however, they become even larger tragedies and losses as we are destined to repeat them. And this even further cheapens and makes futile the initial loss of life.” 

The discussion will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Flathead National Forest Office, 650 Wolfpack Way in Kalispell.

The Flathead Avalanche Center also is hosting a free Advanced Avalanche Awareness class that is open to the public. No registration is needed. 

The 2013 classroom sessions will also be held at the Flathead National Forest office in Kalispell from 6:30  to 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 7, 9, 14 and 16.

Field sessions will be held at the Whitefish Mountain Resort from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 12 and 19.

For additional information on avalanche education classes and avalanche conditions, visit the new Flathead Avalanche Center website at http://www.flatheadavalanche.org. 

You can also sign up to follow the center on Twitter at http://twitter.com/FACAvalanche. Avalanche advisories will start Dec. 8 if conditions allow. 

The phone number to call for recorded avalanche advisories remains the same: 257-8402.