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Avalanche Center gets a little help from Friends
By Paul Boerger
Updated: Tuesday, September 30, 2003 10:00 PM PDT
The Friends of the Mt Shasta Avalanche Center recently purchased and helped install what it hopes will be the first in a series of weather station upgrades and new-site installations around the Mt. Shasta area. FMSAC is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the USDA Forest Service's Mt. Shasta Avalanche Center.
The weather stations are designed to better track snow accumulation and settlement, which along with temperature and wind data help forecasters determine avalanche potential for backcountry users, according to a FMSAC press release.
An ultrasonic snow-depth sensor was installed September 23rd at a site maintained by the California Department of Water Resources on Mt Eddy.
FMSAC says the upgrade adds critical snow accumulation data to an existing weather station. FMSAC provided the sensor and installation materials, while DWR offered the site and installation expertise. All groups will share the data collected.
The majority of the funds raised by FMSAC are from its annual Snow Ball, a celebration of the winter season, as well as from membership dues. All money collected is used to support the Avalanche Center's goal of enhancing the safety of backcountry enthusiasts by providing daily snowfall information and avalanche forecasts to the public.
Forecasts can be accessed during the winter season by calling the Avi-Phone at 926-9613 or online at www.shastaavalanche.org.
FMSAC's 2004 Snow Ball is scheduled for January 24th at the Mt. Shasta City Park. It will include a live band, raffle prizes and a silent auction.
The organization says its primary goal for 2004 is to fund the installation of a complete new weather station at Castle Lake, an increasingly popular, and potentially hazardous backcountry ski and snowboard destination.
Copyright © 2005 Mt. Shasta News. All rights reserved.
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