Jan 14/12 - Zacs Tracs Avy Course

Thank you Lori & Randy and Jeremy for the excellent AST 1 (Avalanche Skills Training - Snowmobiler) course on the weekend. Lori was ill and still persisted and delivered an full, memorable, relative, professional course backed up with lots of personal stories from the staff and students. Hoffmans from Tracs 2 Treadz were there, Kristen from Snowriders West was there and we had students from Idaho to northern Saskatchewan and the Cardston group - hi gang! Was great riding with you guys from Cardston - I would feel safe riding with you - those boys can dig too if it came to it. The whole concept of being up to changing your plans on where to ride given the conditions and risk is so important. Be flexible and know the group you are riding with. Get the skills, get the knowledge and Know that you don't know it all - there is a lot to be learned. Get a course - www.zacstracs.com Oh - Thank you Lori for making sure we didn't give up on trying to get to the field session and to Cooper for problem solving with the 370 Arctic Cat/Clown Car for the day and to Randy for doubling me back to the staging area - you guys went above and beyond to make sure it all came together for us! Weather:.......Report from Fernie - it has been cold and there are a few inches of new snow on a layer about 25cm below that is not bonded yet and then stable set up snow under that. Seeing that in Lower Harvey from the Edenwold, Sask, Dave Radmacher's crew from riding it this weekend. Seeing that here in Corbin area also - Limestone is set up but the concensus for all and in Rolling Hills is that the trees have lots of snow and are terrific riding. Watch your reports though - trees have been higher warning than alpine so just know what to look for and ride accordingly. Hope to have a report from Elkford as Justin's crew is headed that way today. Snow is set up. Thin in open to wind areas with redeposits of snow in depressions or shelters and lots in trees. Supposed to go from the -12 we have now to +3 by Wed. Not really liking that big of a swing this time of year but then we sit in those low minus and low plus' all week til Sat when we are supposed to see a little bit more snow. We are booked all week but have the Divide cabin (sleeps 3-4) open starting Friday night. Hope everyone is having a fun start to their riding! Cheers - V