As all residents know, winters in Wyoming can be brutally
cold. Deep snow, strong winds, and freezing temperatures are a recipe for
disaster for anyone caught unprepared.
To combat the dangers of winter weather in Wyoming, WyCEHG encourages
its researchers to take classes and learn to be better prepared for winter
conditions.
Elizabeth “ET” Traver facilitated two trainings last week providing
WyCEHG researchers the tools they need to be prepared for many different winter
conditions.
The first training was a snow safety training taught by Dan
McCoy of the Outdoor Program. The training focused on avalanche safety, how to
dress appropriately, and how to stay safe while outdoors. The second training
focused on snowmobile use and safety.
“I have a protocol about how to use these snowmobiles,” says
ET. “We went through it step by step, from how to hook up to the trailer, to
how to get the snowmobiles on and off the trailer, to making sure that people
always had their helmets on, so that they remembered, ‘this is an integral part
of being on a snowmobile’”.
Much of the research underway by WyCEHG researchers requires
them to hike into remote backcountry locations to take measurements and conduct
other studies.
Because so much research happens in the mountains, trainings
like these are crucial for the WyCEHG team members, for many reasons.
“We have more and
more people out in the snow all day, doing all sorts of different research activities,”
says ET. “Our objective is to try to give people some skills and some knowledge
and get them thinking about how to stay safer while out in the snow.”
For more information about how to safe while in the snow,
please visit the following websites:
No comments:
Post a Comment