It is a shame that an agency that is responsible for preventing so much loss of life and injury should have to scramble to make ends meet each year, but such is the case for the Utah Avalanche Center. While the federal government provides the bulk of funds for UAC there is always a shortfall.
Luckily, there are groups, namely Friends of Utah Avalanche Center, which make up the difference. This past ski season Backcountry.com and eleven resorts offered the locals-only lift ticket program to provide money for UAC.
The resorts donated discounted lift tickets and Backcountry.com provided personnel to handle the logistics of the program. With the end of the season approaching, at least on paper, organizers say approximately $38,000 was generated. Kudos to the resorts and backcountry.com for stepping up and helping save lives.
-- Brett