BY KAREN BOSSICK

Sun Valley, thankfully, has not seen the massive avalanches that closed Cottonwood Canyon near Salt Lake City this week or killed a snowmobiler and skier near Cooke City, Mont., and Breckinridge, Colo.

But the snow and sun you see outside your window can be deceptive. Sawtooth Avalanche Center forecasters say at least eight large natural or human-triggered avalanches have occurred in the past three days on Galena and Senate peaks, Easley Peak, the Baker Creek area above Baker Lake, the Soldier Mountains, Hyndman Creek, Westernhome Gulch and the Salmon River Headwaters.

And Sunday’s winds only added to instability.

Learn what to think about when playing in the snow during a free Intro to Avalanches presentation at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, at Ketchum’s Community Library.

Friends of the Sawtooth Avalanche Center ‘s team of snow experts, mountain guides and avalanche educators will offer an intro for newcomers to snow country and a refresher for seasoned backcountry users about snow, avalanches and how to travel safely in and near avalanche terrain.

An all-day field day will follow on Saturday, Jan. 7, and Sunday, Jan. 8, for those who are interested.