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Issaquah Clinics and Events

Avalanche Awareness

12/5/2009 9:15 AM

RIDGE EXPLORATIONS LLC

presents

GARY BRILL AVALANCHE EDUCATION

Avalanche Awareness and Level 1 Courses
Created by Gary Brill and now in its 22st season, the Avalanche Awareness and Level 1 courses, revised in 2005, reflect more than 35 years of backcountry skiing experience, 25 years of guiding and professional avalanche training. These avalanche courses are most useful for backcountry recreationalists and aspiring guides, including skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, and climbers who frequent winter and spring mountain terrain. The Avalanche Awareness & Level I courses are finely tuned to the maritime and intermountain meteorology and snowpacks most common in the Cascade and Olympic ranges - since field trips will study those snowpacks and students are most likely to visit these areas.

Instructors are Professional members of the American Avalanche Association and Affiliate members Canadian Avalanche Association.


Avalanche Awareness ($205) and Level 1 Courses ($125)
The Avalanche Awareness program includes six hours of classroom instruction and one day of field work.
Classroom work covers:

Trip planning

Terrain evaluation and route-finding

Snowpack observation

Stability testing, and evaluation

Weather

Safe travel techniques

Rescue

Field trip work covers:

Trip planning

Field observations of snowpack and weather

Terrain evaluation and safe travel

Avalanche hazard recognition

Snowpack tests

Snow pit skills for discovering weak layers

Transceiver skills

Avalanche rescue practice

Avalanche Awareness can be upgraded to a Level 1 certification by taking an extra (second) field trip, which is called the Level 1 Field Trip. This extra trip is optional.

Should I take the Level 1 extra field trip?
The Avalanche Awareness field trip is taught like a regular ski or snowshoe tour, but the focus is on transceiver skills training, rescue training and snow pit skills. It is a very full program packed with information and training, but the amount of time spent on these fundamental skills limits the amount of time for travel. It should be realized that there is a lot to learn on the subject of avalanche safety, and one day in the field is not adequate to cover what the beginning backcountry enthusiast needs.

The Level 1 field trip is optional, but it is highly recommended that students take the extra training that comes with the additional Level 1 field trip. The good news is that Level 1 field trips are travel days! We cover much more ground and consequently are able to teach much more terrain evaluation and decision-making. Snow pit work is reviewed and human factors are discussed at length, as well. More travel allows students to experience the snow on several aspects while enjoying a lengthy tour under the instructional guidance of a professional guide with many years of experience in avalanche country. By taking the Level 1 field day at the time of their choosing, students complete the certification process for Level 1. It takes much longer to learn the mysteries of snow stability than it does to learn to choose safe terrain. With two solid days of field instruction stressing terrain evaluation, students have a good start on the skills needed to be able to safely gain snow experience.


When stability is the question, terrain is the answer.

To register please visit Ridge Explorations.

  • Location:Classroom session- Issaquah REI/ Field Trip- TBD
  • Contact:Don Langlois at info@ridgeexplorations.com
  • Cost:Please see above
  • Registration Required? Yes. www.ridgeexplorations.com
  • http://www.ridgeexplorations.com

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