Glacier Country Avalanche Center (GCAC) is a partnership between the US Forest Service, National Park Service, National Weather Service, Glacier Country Avalanche Center Incorporated (GCAC Inc), and the people and businesses of Northwest Montana with the goal of educating the public about avalanche danger in Northwest Montana.
The GCAC region is approximately 10,000 square miles and encompasses seven mountain ranges. Within this vast area, the goal of GCAC is to help winter recreational enthusists and professional workers avoid avalanche accidents. To achieve this, GCAC provides avalanche safety education programs and backcountry avalanche advisories.
Specific responsibilities for the operation of GCAC are shared between GCAC Inc., Flathead National Forest, Kootenai National Forest, and Glacier National Park. GCAC Inc. is responsible for all GCAC fundraising, fundraising activities and information infrastructure. GCAC government entities collect weather observations, avalanche observations, and field observations to collaboratively write the GCAC avalanche advisories.
GCAC Inc. and all the GCAC government entities work in unison to provide the
public with avalanche education opportunities.
For the 2007-2008 season, GCAC government entity observers/snow
specialists include:
Stan Bones, Avalanche Specialist, Flathead National Forest
Tony Willits, Avalanche Specialist, Flathead National Forest
Leah Taylor, Avalanche Education Specialist, Flathead National Forest
Jon Jeresek, Turner Mountain Snow Ranger, Kootenai National Forest
The mountain weather forecasts included in the GCAC avalanche advisories are based
on information produced by the National Weather
Service, Missoula Office .
All public support for GCAC is coordinated by GCAC Inc. which is a registered non-profit corporation. An elected volunteer Board of Directors manages GCAC, Inc. and has appointed an Executive Director and an Education Director who assist who assist the Board in day-to-day operations. The Board meets monthly from September through May.
2007-2008 GCAC
Board of Directors
|
| Durae Daniels-Belcer |
| Colleen Scharfe |
| Eric Gates |
Contact Glacier Country Avalanche Center Inc.
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