Outdoor notes

AVALANCHE BEACON TRIALS

In its continuing effort to promote avalanche awareness, Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort is offering a second annual avalanche beacon hunt,

The event will be April 15. A championship round of Beacon and Eggs will take place April 22 at Snowbird.

Multiple avalanche beacons will be buried in a one-acre area in at Snowbird. Tracker beacons are wrapped in a protective pad to simulate the feel of a buried victim and placed below the snow surface. After the beacons are placed below the snow surface, a snowcat will groom the entire area to hide any tracks.

Searchers will proceed to the buried transceivers using their beacons in "search" mode. Groups can work together, sharing the prizes for recovering the beacon.

All participants in the April 15 competition are required to fill out an entry form between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. The hunt starts at 8:15 a.m. and will take place near the Snowbird Tubing Hill.

For media information, contact Roger Kehr at 801-450-0454 or Laura Schaffer at 801-933-2047 or lschaffer@snowbird.com.

NONGAME SUPPORT

Those interested in supporting Utah's nongame wildlife, and haven't finished their 2005 tax returns, the opportunity remains to donate.

Those interested simply need to write in the proper code on their 2005 Utah State Income Tax form.

The code — 01—and dollar amount can be written on any line between 21a - 21f on the tax form. The total contribution goes on line 21.

Money received through the nongame tax checkoff is used entirely to help wildlife

Last year, Utah taxpayers gave $23,964 to the Utah Nongame Wildlife Fund. The funds were used to support several important programs that benefit nongame wildlife.

The DWR's nongame avian program uses the money to fund surveys of raptor and songbird populations in Utah. It also used the money to learn how much habitat is available in Utah to support Mexican spotted owls. Money was also used to help endangered and sensitive species.

Those who have already filed, but want to contribute, can send donation to the Division of Wildlife Resources, P.O. Box 146301, Salt Lake City, UT, 84114-6301.

SNOWBASIN MELTDOWN EVENT

Snowbasin's annual Meltdown Race & Festival will be Satruday.