Guardians on the volcano
Fresh snow on Mount Shasta, looking up at Avalanche Gulch from near treeline. Avalanches regularly occur here. The Avalanche Gulch route is the most popular route up the mountain and is typically best climbed in spring when the avalanche danger is low, snow coverage is still good, the days are longer and…
#SearchAndRescue, #Rescue, #Avalanche, #OutdoorSafety, #EmergencyResponse, #EmergencyPreparedness, #Recreation, #Winter, #WinterSports, #ShastaTrinityNationalForest
Where Olympians are made
For Olympic medalist Shannon Dunn-Downing, the road to the podium didn’t begin in a private club or elite training facility. It began on public lands in the mountains of Colorado. Public lands transform open space into opportunity. They are, quite literally, where Olympians are made. (Forest Service video by Travis Weger)For Shannon Dunn-Downing, the path to the Olympics did not begin in a…
#WinterOlympics, #Winter, #WinterSports, #Snowboarding, #Recreation, #Sports
Winter driving tips
Before you head out, ensure all snow is cleared from your vehicle. You don't want to injure other drivers. (Forest Service photo by Jeff Gehring)
Winter driving can be hazardous. Additional preparations can help make a trip safer or help motorists deal with an emergency. Below we provide some…
#Winter, #DrivingSafety
Forecasting avalanches on the Custer-Gallatin National Forest
Forecaster Dave Zinn on a field day in November 2024 in the northern Madison Range. (Photo courtesy Chris Ennis)
At 4 a.m., downtown Bozeman has six inches of snow on the ground as Avalanche Forecaster Dave Zinn walks into the Custer-Gallatin National Forest supervisor’s office while snowplows clear empty…
#Winter
Plants of the Winter Solstice
By Larry Stritch
Plants play an important role in many of our holiday traditions, including the season surrounding the winter solstice. Winter solstice, occurring on or around December 21st, is the first day of winter, the shortest day and the longest night of the year. To early cultures, the winter solstice was a day of both…
#Winter, #CapitolChristmasTree, #Christmas, #Holidays
Clearing the ridge: Fire for forest health and resilient communities
Wildfire is driven by three main factors — weather, terrain and fuels. When fighting wildfires, firefighters work to reduce the fuel feeding the fire, either by removing it with heavy equipment, handlines or by making it hard to burn by soaking the fuel with water or retardant.
Adam Dummer,…