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Mission Ridge resort would like everyone to have a safe and enjoyable experience, whether riding their system of lifts or exploring the nearby backcountry of the Washington Cascades.

To the end, Mission Ridge conducts a series of avalanche awareness classes to help the skiing and snowboarding public understand and appreciate the power of snow-loaded ridges and slopes.

These classes, which are free to the first 12 people to show up, are approximately 90 minutes in duration and cover the effects of snowpack, weather, and terrain on avalanches, avalanche triggers, route selection, rescue technique, and transceiver and probe usage.

They'll also provide some worthwhile tips while traversing avalanche prone terrain, such as never have more than one person on a slope at a time; do not stop in the middle of a slope; stay in voice contact; have an escape route, and have a plan for ascent as well as descent.

There will be two avalanche awareness classes held in March - on the 7^th and 21^st, both Saturdays. The clinics will be conducted in the basement of the patrol building at the top of the mountain, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Contact Brad Whiting at 509-663-654, x 441, or e-mail info@missionridge.com for more information.