March 13, 2024 |
Photo – High Danger of Avalanche sign – Courtesy picryl.com
The sheriff encourages winter sports enthusiasts to exercise caution while traveling through Carbon County’s backcountry.
Last Thursday, March 7th, Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken was invited to give a presentation on backcountry safety and avalanche awareness by the Southeast Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Collaborative, or SWORC. Sheriff Bakken said SWORC is a recently created outdoor safety organization representing the southeastern portion of Wyoming.
Sheriff Bakken said SWORC invited him to speak at their March 7th meeting on avalanche awareness and backcountry safety. The sheriff said he created a short PowerPoint presentation on how Carbon County is educating winter sports enthusiasts on staying safe in the Snowy Range and Sierra Madre Mountains. Be 307 Aware is one the most effective safety campaigns available to snowmobilers, said Sheriff Bakken.
Sheriff Bakken also said the purchase of a tracked rescue vehicle, called a Hagglund, is another way his department is keeping snowmobilers safe.
The sheriff said Carbon County is the number one location for snowmobilers in the interior western United States. Sheriff Bakken said the popularity of our area obligates him to make efforts to keep tourists safe.
Sheriff Bakken said snowmobiling in the mountains can be dangerous. The sheriff said he personally carries several pieces of survival equipment with him when venturing into the backcountry.
Sheriff Bakken said avalanches are one of the most dangerous hazards snowmobilers face in the mountains of Carbon County. The sheriff said he doesn’t think avalanche fatalities can be completely eliminated. However, Sheriff Bakken said education and preparation can help snowmobiles stay as safe as possible.
In March of 2022, 58-year-old Jon P. LaFramboise, of Rapid City, South Dakota was killed in an avalanche near Bridger Peak. And last month, Saratoga town councilman Jacob Fluty died in an avalanche near Battle Pass. Both fatalities occurred in the Sierra Madre Mountains.
According to the Eastern Wyoming Avalanche Center, Carbon County has had six reported avalanches since the beginning of March. Sheriff Bakken encouraged snowmobilers to know the signs of a potential avalanche.
Sheriff Bakken said snowmobilers should consult the Eastern Wyoming Avalanche Center website, or a similar resource, and let someone know where you’re going before heading into the backcountry. The sheriff said being as prepared as possible will save lives in the event of an emergency.
In his SWORC presentation, Sheriff Bakken said he would like to create an avalanche forecasting station specifically for the Sierra Madres and Snowy Range. Until that time, the sheriff said he will continue his avalanche public awareness campaign.
