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NRCS School Teaches Snow Sampling and Winter Survival
![Snow survey students measure snow.](images/snowsurveyschoollg3.jpg) |
(L to R) Students Ruben Vasquez
of (WY), Fred Cummings (CO), Dennis Waggoner (CO) (holding
tub) and Pat Boyd (WY) measure snow during outdoor training. |
Students learned proper techniques of measuring snowpack and good winter
survival skills during the West-Wide Snow Survey Training School in Tahoe City,
Calif. during January 2005. Forty-seven students from nine western states attended
this year’s school, conducted annually by NRCS with other federal and state
agencies. Students learned skills such as snow sampling, avalanche recognition,
cold weather survival techniques and outdoor emergency care. They also slept
overnight in a snow cave they constructed. They received certificates upon
successful completion of the school. The students, employed in the water
resources arena, came from federal agencies such as NRCS, Forest Service and
Bureau of Reclamation; state and local agencies; utilities and one tribe from
Oregon. Snow serves as a primary source of water in the western United States.
Links...
Snow Survey
and Water Supply Forecasting
Survival In A Snow
Cave -Click on Survival in a Snow Cave to see video clip
![Snow survey participants prepare area to build their snow cave.](images/snowsurveyschool1sm.jpg) |
Soil Conservation Technicians Mickey Cooney (MT)(left), and Katie Oliphant of
(ID) prepare an area to build
their snow cave. |
Soil Conservation Technicians Mickey Cooney of (MT),
and Katie Oliphant (ID) begin to build their snow
cave. |
![Snow survey students begin to build their snow cave.](images/snowsurveyschool2sm.jpg) |
![Snow survey student surveys his surroundings from his snow cave.](images/snowsurveyschool3sm.jpg) |
Aaron Marshall of the Wyoming State Engineer Office in Riverton
surveys his surroundings from his partially constructed snow cave. |
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