Utah Avalanche Center Mega Party – This Thursday
One of the toughest parts of an Avalanche Forecasters job isn’t assessing the snowpack, it’s figuring out a way to raise money to keep a forecast operation running. Among people who use and appreciate forecast centers, it seems hard to believe that they aren’t funded through some sort of public safety agency, and yet Utah legislators voted to spend $300,000 a year to deter the threat of wolves, which were eradicated here in the 1930’s.
Fortunately for the central Wasatch, the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center (FUAC) was formed many years ago and has done an amazing job of fundraising through parties, events and ski swaps. I often take it for granted living here, but when traveling I’ll often come across other forecast organizations who speak of the FUAC’s fund raising prowess in almost mythical terms. But of course, a fund raising event is only as good as the people who show up for it, and in that regard, the local SLC community is fantastic.
This year’s main fundraising party is coming up this Thursday, September 12th. It is the 20th annual event, and like all others before it, it is being held outside at Black Diamond (2084 East, 3900 South) from 6:00pm until 10:00pm. The party features food, drinks and a silent auction, as well as tons of skiers and outdoors people. Tickets are $39 per person before Sept 11th and $45 after. Kids under 12 are free and there are $10 kids meals available if the tykes get hungry. Dogs aren’t allowed, which is probably a good thing. I remember bringing my dog, Otto, to one of the early events and after spending most of the night harvesting low-hanging plates of spicy Tibetan beef, he yarfed all over the back of my truck on the ride home.
Tickets are available on line HERE, or at the Black Diamond Retail store.
Photos by Sandra Salvas – thanks Sandra!
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Category: Announcements, Avalanche
