By Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation
Believe it or not we are about to embark on another winter
season in the next couple of months. Now is the time to start the preseason checks
on your equipment; it is also time to think about your backcountry knowledge
and survival skills. With that in mind, IDPR has its winter class schedule
completed.
If you haven't taken an avalanche awareness class or maybe
it has been a couple years, this is the year to sharpen your skills. Come out
to one of the free avalanche awareness classes. For those riders that are new
to the sport or those who would like to sharpen your skills come out to one of IDPR's
snowmobile operators courses, also free.
The IDPR Avalanche Awareness classes instruct you
on the basics of traveling in avalanche country and rescue techniques. There
will be 26 classroom sessions and 11 field classes available throughout the
state. Without 10 students preregistered IDPR will not be able to host these
classes, so make sure you grab your friends and sign up for one of the courses.
IDPR also needs to ensure it has adequate instructors to accommodate the field
sessions, so again, make sure you pre-register.
The IDPR Snowmobile Operator classes instruct you
on body position and being rider active on both packed and powder terrain.
These riding techniques will get you started on the right path or will freshen
up your snowmobile operation skills. One class will be held in each of the
three (3) regions North, South and East Idaho.
Class sizes are limited to (10) ten riders per class, so IDPR can ensure a
quality experience.
This year the agency has changed the requirement for its field
classes, making it a prerequisite to have 10 participants pre-registered
to attend or the class will be canceled.
You will need your own snowmobile with current IDPR
registration. It is the IDPR snowmobile registration that makes these classes
and grooming possible.
If you are interested in signing up for a class please go to
the IDPR website http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/activities/snowmobiling and
register.
If you have any questions please call
South Idaho - Rich
Gummersall at 208-514-2414 or
Todd Wernex at 208-514-2413
North Idaho - Scott
Hildesheim at 208-769-1511
East Idaho - Blair Geiger or
Michael Robinson at 208-525-7121
The class dates for both the avalanche training and new rider instruction are enclosed on the attached PDF.