Squaw Valley USA will do its part to participate in National Safety Awareness Week, Jan. 13-19, 2007. This annual week is designed to heighten slope safety awareness and showcase what resorts regularly do with regard to skier and snowboarder safety and education. Events include the annual "Steep & Deep" avalanche awareness clinic, daily introductions to the Recco avalanche rescue system, photo sessions with the Squaw avalanche rescue dogs, the chance to meet and talk safety with members of Squaw Valley Ski Patrol. Public service announcements related to slope safety will air on the Resort Sports Network, as well as daily postings of the "Skier's Responsibility Code" will be placed on the resort's web site and snow report to heighten awareness.

Friday Jan. 19 at 7 p.m., Squaw Valley Ski Patrol hosts the annual Steep N Deep Avalanche Awareness Clinic at the Plaza Bar. This FREE/all-ages avalanche awareness clinic includes multi-media presentations by the lead forecaster for the Sierra Avalanche Center, Brandon Schwartz, as well as other avalanche experts, weather forecasters, and terrain analysts. "Steep N Deep is not just for the hard core. It's for anyone who spends time on the snow," says Lel Tone, 12 year veteran of Squaw Valley Ski Patrol. "You'll walk away from this avalanche awareness clinic with a heightened sense of awareness and knowledge that could save your life."

Ongoing safety programs in place at Squaw Valley USA include safety education talks with local area schools, weekly avalanche beacon classes hosted by the Squaw Valley Ski Patrol, Responsibility Code postings throughout the resort, an active and constantly training avalanche rescue dog program, periodic helmet demo days and an active and always visible presence of Patrollers on the mountain whose primary goal is to help educate and assist guests in order to ensure everyone has a safe mountain experience.

National Safety Awareness Week is endorsed by the National Ski Areas Association. For information on National Safety Week and Steep N Deep at Squaw Valley USA, call (530) 583-6985, or visit www.squaw.com.