COOKE CITY, Mont. They say their work has helped keep deaths from spiking despite more skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers pushing the limits on remote mountainsides. Cooke City is thronged with tourists by the thousands in summer, when it’s a bustling gateway to Yellowstone National Park. After it snows — and here storms are often measured by the foot — snowmobilers and skiers pack the few hotels and inns. On Saturdays at a backcountry warming hut used by snowmobilers, avalanche educators give basic rescue lessons including how to use avalanche beacons — transmitters that send a signal rescuers can use to find victims.

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Persons: COOKE, Wesley Mlaskoch, Mlaskoch, “, ” Mlaskoch, Doug Chabot, it’s, ”, Chabot, “ It’s, he’s, Chabot snowmobiled, Cooke, Kay Whittle, Bill, Shannon Abelseth Organizations: Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center, Avalanche, Cooke, U.S, Experts, U.S ., Antlers Locations: Mont, Montana, , Minnesota, Gallatin, Idaho , Colorado, Wyoming, Cooke City , Montana, Cooke City, Cooke, Yellowstone