In The News – Annual Tahoe Backcountry Safety Awareness Week starts today
December 9, 2024 | Member Submitted
Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 12/09/2024, Submitted
From expert panel sessions about backcountry safety to on-the-snow events hosted by some of Lake Tahoe’s finest backcountry guides, the fifth annual Tahoe Backcountry Safety Awareness Week is chock full of events curated by Take Care Tahoe. From December 9-15, 2024, both novice and experienced backcountry users will have opportunities to learn how to safely recreate in the backcountry this winter.
According to Snowsports Industries America (SIA), the pandemic boosted participation in backcountry/Alpine Touring by 57% during the 2020-21 winter season. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center also reported that a total of 37 avalanche related fatalities occurred in the U.S. that season. The rise in deaths was attributed to both inexperience and challenging snowpack conditions. In the years since, participation in backcountry/Alpine touring has continued to increase. Safety messaging continues to be paramount.
Photo: Provided to Tahoe Daily Tribune (snowboarder Claire Hewitt-Dwyer on Mt. Tallac) by First Tracks Production