KLIM raises funds for avalanche safety
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RIGBY – Three people died in avalanches in the 2017-2018 winter in Idaho, and KLIM wants to do something about that.
KLIM, a company that sells outdoor gear, is hosting an informational fundraiser and lunch Saturday at its headquarters on County Line Road. The company will use the proceeds to improve avalanche safety in Island Park.
There are spots for only 200 people at the fundraiser, but those people will receive a barbecue lunch. Tickets are $50.
KLIM spokesperson Lukas Eddy said the fundraiser is not intended to make money for KLIM but to train people about avalanche safety.
The fundraiser will include break-out sessions from Utah Avalanche Center, Starting Line Products, Next Level Riding Clinics and Air Idaho Rescue. These groups and companies will give training on sled safety, avalanche and outdoor gear, preparedness and first aid.
KLIM plans to use the money to build avalanche beacon check stations around Island Park. Avalanche beacons can be activated so rescuers can find someone who has been buried or lost after an avalanche.
“Avalanche beacon check stations test whether your beacon is transmitting a signal before you ride into the mountains,” according to KLIM’s press release. “Beacons are critical for locating and rescuing buried riders, and a beacon that’s not transmitting a signal makes it nearly impossible to locate a buried victim.”
This fundraiser comes after two men died in Island Park earlier this year in avalanches, and after the wife of one of the victims posted avalanche warning signs at trailheads in Island Park.
To register, visit KLIM’s website.