Avalanche death in Snowy Range prompts warnings

By Addie Goss

Laramie, WY – After an avalanche killed a snowmobiler in the Snowy Range this week, authorities are reminding people to use caution when they head for the hills.

Albany County Sheriff Jim Pond recommends buying a trail map outlining areas with high avalanche risk. He says snowmobilers should take along an avalanche beacon, which sends out a signal to help locate a buried person. And Pond has a few other recommendations: dress for the weather, make sure that you have sufficient supplies with you, carry a shovel, carry a collapsible avalanche probe. Most importantly, let somebody know where you're going.

There is no state-wide avalanche warning center. So those recreating in Wyoming need to piece together alerts and warnings from various sources, including the Bridger-Teton avalanche information center and from states whose mountain ranges extend into Wyoming. Their websites are at avalanche.org.