This is an opportunity to get your hands in the snow and gain familiarity with essential concepts and practices for travel in avalanche-prone terrain. With an evening classroom session and eight-hour weekend field day, this course offers 11 hours of instruction time.
This course will include avalanche terminology, identifying avalanche hazards and terrain, snowpack and weather factors, trip planning and preparation, simple decision-making tools, backcountry travel protocols and companion rescue techniques including the use of avalanche transceivers, shovels and probes will be covered.
Required Gear: You are required to have a fully operational modern avalanche transceiver (457kHz), an avalanche shovel (no plastic blades) and an avalanche probe. You are required to have downhill (or backcountry) skis or snowboard with appropriate bindings. You do not need climbing skins.
