*All courses meet the standards outlined for Level 1 Avalanche Course Instruction by the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE).
Level One Avalanche Course in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado
COST: $250
DATES: Custom trip. Call for booking
INCLUDES:
- 2 1/2-day Level 1 Avalanche Safety Course Instruction
- All course materials and handouts
- One night in backcountry hut, dinner provided
You will come away from this course with the basic knowledge needed to make safe travel decisions and perform avalanche rescues with use of beacons.
Our modern*, up to date approach to teaching avalanche safety skills is certain to be of great value to both those new and experienced in back country travel.
Our "classroom" will be in one of the backcountry huts of the San Juan Hut System, near Ridgway, Colorado. We will spend two full days and one night out learning valuable skills, while enjoying the surrounding mountain splendor.
This course also serves a great "tune up" for those with previous avalanche safety training but in need of a refresher.
Sign up now!: Click here and you can make a deposit of $100 to reserve your space on this course.
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Level One Inclusive Hut Tour and Avalanche Course
COST: $300
DATES: Custom trip. Please contact us for booking.
INCLUDES:
- 3-day Level 1 Avalanche Safety Course Instruction
- All course materials and handouts
- Two nights in backcountry hut, dinners & breakfast provided
This special course offers everything included in our normal Level 1 Avalanche Safety Course PLUS an extra day at a catered backcountry hut.
The adventure will be based out of the conveniently located Ridgway hut, surrounded by some of the finest backcountry skiing and snowboarding terrain in the Northern San Juan Mountains .
Sign up now: Click here and you can make a deposit of $140 to reserve your space on this course.
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Level Two Avalanche Course
COST: $350
DATES: Custom trip. Please contact us for booking.
The Level II Avalanche Safety Course will introduce snow metamorphism, guidelines and recording standards for weather, snowpack and avalanches, testing techniques and interpretation.
The course will cover the following:
* Snow Metamorphism and Weather effects on snow
* Surface Hoar Formation
* Slab mechanics
* Stability Testing
* Observation Guidelines
* Recording Standards
* Stability analysis
You can expect to become familiar with all test techniques and interpretation. You will have an understanding of snow metamorphism, the effect of temperature gradient and it's relation to the formation of the hazardous conditions.
You will be introduced to standardized methods of collecting and recording data.
Course Goals
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
* Understand the snow metamorphism process and how it relates to backcountry snow stability.
* Understand weak layer formation in the snow pack.
* Understand temperature gradient and its effects on snow.
* Make standardized observations and recordings for weather, snowpack and avalanches.
* Conduct snow testing and interpretation.
* Perform a rescue
Itinerary
DAY 1
* Introduction: goals & objectives
* Formation and Nature of Avalanches
* Mountain Snowpack
* In the Field: Full Profile Demo
* In the Classroom: Set up Snow Profile Page
* Weather Observations Page
* Avalanche Observations Page
DAY 2
* Weather Observations
* Factors that Affect / Indicate Snow Stability
* Avalanche Terrain
* Field Observations
* Test Profile
DAY 3
* In the Field: Avalanche Terrain
* Test Profile
* Field Observations
* Review Mountain Snowpack & Discuss Current Stability
* Case History Exercise
DAY 4
* Stability anaysis process
* Field Trip - Route Finding
* Group Management
* Developing Leadership & Decision-Making Skills
