Whether you’re traveling on foot, on skis or by snowmobile into the mountains in Colorado during the winter, you need to know about avalanche danger.

To help backcountry travelers, Ridgway State Park is sponsoring an avalanche workshop, 10 a.m., Dec. 17 at the visitors’ center. The workshop will be led by Jeff Davis from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

During the 2015-16 season, eight people in Colorado died in avalanches. Since 2005, 72 people in Colorado have been killed in snow slides. Over the last 10 years in the United States an average of 27 people died in avalanches each winter.

Davis will discuss the basics of preparing for all types of backcountry recreation. He’ll explain how to recognize potential threat, how to examine winter terrain, what to do if you are in an avalanche situation, and equipment you should carry. He will also demonstrate how to use avalanche beacons, probing poles and shovels.