Q. The UAC received 2.5 million hits to its Web site -www.utahavalanchecenter.com - last winter. What more can you do to keep people safe?

A. "Most avalanche victims in Utah don't consult the avalanche report before they go out. Plain ignorance is responsible for most of our fatalities. People may have lived here their whole lives and have heard about avalanches, but don't know anything about them. They just go out and suddenly find themselves face to face with one. We have to reach more people and let them know there are avalanche resources available for them."

How will you reach those people?

"The Legislature approved some one-time money this year through Utah State Parks. We are using that money for outreach and education. The goal is to reach people who do not know anything about the avalanche center. We want to get the word out to youth and to rural communities."

What trends have you noticed in your more than two decades in Utah?

"The number of incidences and fatalities keep going up. It boils down to more and more people getting into the backcountry. The equipment keeps getting better and better. There are better skis, snowboards, snowshoes and snowmobiles. People can fly into Utah from anywhere, rent a snowmobile and instantly access dangerous avalanche terrain. Nationally, snowmobilers account for twice as many fatalities as the other user groups, but in Utah it is pretty well distributed between the four groups."

Detailed daily forecasts are provided from the Utah Avalanche Center at the Web site, by phone at 888-999-4019 and 800-648-7433 (snowmobile hotline) - and via e-mail (sign up for alerts online). Backcountry observers also are encouraged to share their experiences by calling the report hotline at 801-524-5304

- Brett Prettyman