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Avalanche Awareness San Juan Mountain Guides,LLC Director Clint Cook is qualified by the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) to teach Level I and II courses. The AIARE curriculum is the finest format for teaching avalanche assessment and will prepare you for making good decisions in any winter backcountry environment. The winter backcountry travel enthusiast is often at risk from potential avalanche hazard. The best protection from that risk is a thorough understanding of the hazard and the ability to assess the snowpack and surrounding terrain features. Our instructors are some of the most knowledgeable and experienced avalanche forecasters and snow science experts in the business. Techniques and skills covered include:
The San Juan Mountains offer varied and complex terrain, consistent snowfall, and easy access for avalanche education. Utilizing picture-perfect ski terrain from gladed trees to open bowls, we teach skills such as terrain assessment, transceiver use, and snowpack analysis for safe travel and skiing in any backcountry location. Both programs earn the participant an American Avalanche Association Level I ot Level II certificate of completion. AIARE Avalanche Level 1: January 4-6, 2008 Book Now Pizza dinner will be provided
on Friday night. AIARE LEVEL 1: DECISION MAKING IN AVLANCHE TERRAIN The level one is a 24 hour introduction to avalanche hazard management. The course can be scheduled over 3 days or two evenings and one day or however the course provider sees fit. The course is expected to: * Provide a basic understanding of avalanches * Describe a framework for decision making and risk management in avalanche terrain * Focus on identifying the right questions, rather than on providing “answers.” * Give lessons and exercises that are practically oriented, useful, and applicable in the field. Students can expect to develop a good grounding in how to prepare for and carry out a trip, to understand basic decision making while in the field, and to learn rescue techniques required to find and dig up a buried person (if an avalanche occurs and someone in the party is caught). A final debrief includes a knowledge quiz to test student comprehension and to give feedback to instructors on instructional tools. Students are encouraged and counseled on how to apply the skills learned and told that no course can fully guarantee safety, either during or after course completion. A link is made to a future AIARE Level 2 course. Student learning outcomes. At the end of the Level One course the student should be able to: * Plan and prepare for travel in avalanche terrain. * Recognize avalanche terrain. * Describe a basic framework for making decisions in avalanche terrain. * Learn and apply effective companion rescue. Instructional sessions ( 24 hours including both class and field instruction) : 1. Introduction to the Avalanche Phenomena * Types and characteristics of avalanches * Avalanche motion * Size classification * The mountain snowpack: an introduction to metamorphism and layering 2. Observations and Information Gathering * Field observation techniques * Bonding tests: rutschblock, compression test, * Avalanche danger factors; “Red Flags”. * Observation checklist * Avalanche danger scale * Trip Planning and Preparation * Avalanche terrain recognition, assessment, and selection * Route finding and travel techniques * Decision making and Human Factors * Companion Rescue and Equipment
Student Prerequisites :
Students must be able to travel in avalanche terrain. There are no other prerequisites |
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