CSAC Avalanche Center Update

November 1, 1998

Some news on our auction and an update on the website:

Auction!
========

Check out our online fundraising auction! There is a link from the home
page (http://www.csac.org) or you can go directly there:

http://www.i-world.net/csac/auction/

(The I-World server has better cgi policies than the csac host service, so
we are running it there.)

Help us raise operating funds for this season and get something you want
at the same time. Plus it should be fun! So register and bid on items,
donate something for us to auction (used gear is welcome as well as new),
and/or print out the press release from the auction page and get it to
your local retailer or anyone else who might contribute items.

Right now there are items from about a dozen companies, a few of which
need to be added in the coming week. There is also a day of Cat Skiing. We
are continuing to add items as they are contributed, so keep checking
back.

The auction will close on Dec 4, +- a day for some items. If you pay by
credit card you can have your item(s) for the holidays.

Website News
============

Ever wonder when you visit what is new? There is now a "Whats New" page,
follow the link from the top of the home page. We'll try to keep it
updated with notes on major items and there is a link to a page produced
by a script each night showing (w/ links) all pages updated in the last 7
days.

Education Section - A lot of work for this section is in progress. The
glossary is being revamped and cleaned up, the first pass should be done
in a week to ten days. The course listing has been set up for this year
and we are adding avalanche courses as we learn of them. We are also
working on a new interactive feature for this section which is nearly
ready, more on that next time.

Bulletins - These will start to be issued, and we have checked out our
webposting and mail list systems in order to be ready to distribute this
safety information efficiently once again this season. The automated
linking of key terms to our glossary will be improved some more. We have
added a few countries to the page since last season also. Until the
bulletins begin to be issued and based on enough input we encourage people
getting out to share their observations or questions on the
forum/discussion in the Current Conditions section.

Incidents - A short list right now, with only some sparse information on 2
situations in India and Nepal. It would be nice if it stays short, but it
never does.

Download Section - Two new pdf "posters" in color for 8.5 x 11 paper.

Other sections will be cleaned up as soon as we get to them. We have been
running a high-powered link checker on the entire site and are working on
updating or eliminating bad links, as well as fixing a few html errors
this scanning program picks up.

Fall Promotion
==============

Every fall we make a big push to get the word out about this resource.
Please do what you can to help. We will be glad to send some paper 
bookmarks to anyone who can get them out in the local shop(s) or anywhere
else suitable. Just request some by e-mail. (Available in French, German,
and Spanish as well as English.)

Fall Incidents
==============

There are a few involvements every fall and early winter. Remember that
ski areas are not controlled until they are ready to open and the terrain
is backcountry till then. Also watch out for the small terrain traps which
catch people before most areas have much of a snowpack. Most of all, have
fun out there!