Advanced Avalanche Safety

Course Details

DATES - PRICE - LOCATION - CERTIFICATION
CURRICULUM - AGENDA - PREREQUISITES
INSTRUCTORS & GROUP SIZE - DIFFICULTY, FITNESS & EXPERIENCE - TRANSPORTATION
ACCOMMODATION & MEALS - GEAR
INSURANCE - BOOKING

Avalanche is the greatest hazard facing the backcountry skier. To fully enjoy backcountry skiing it's crucial to be able to understand the phenomena, to recognize the terrain where avalanches occur and to be able to find routes that minimize risk.

If you're a serious back country skier or winter mountaineer wishing to build a solid knowledge base so as to safely expand your back country horizons then this is the course for you. It will be a valuable investment in your mountain safety!

It's very much a 'hands-on' program featuring extensive practical field experience augmented with evening theory sessions. The curriculum is designed to give a solid grounding in the essentials; the instructors are guides seasoned in touring, heliskiing and forecasting. This program is for those with little or no prior avalanche training!

Dates

2001: January 8 - 13, February 12 - 17

Price

$820 CDN (c.$540US) includes GST, instruction, books, accommodation, 'Back Country Park Fees' and use of safety and snow study equipment. A certificate will be issued on successful completion.

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Location

The course will be based at the Canadian Alpine Centre at Lake Louise. From there we make daytrips, initially in the Canadian Rockies then to the Purcells and, if conditions permit, to Rogers Pass in the Selkirks (in past years we spent more time in Rogers Pass but were often prevented from reaching the avalanche start zones due to extremely deep snow).

Certification

This program follows course guidelines established by the Canadian Avalanche Association. Certificates will be issued to participants who complete the program.

Curriculum

Considerable flexibility is built into the course delivery. Snow and weather conditions may dictate the order of presentation to some degree. Key topics will be constantly revisited during the program.

Topics Include:

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Course Agenda

Day 1: Meet at the Lake Louise Alpine Centre at 9:00am for introductions, a review of course goals and itinerary. A classroom introduction to the avalanche phenomena will be followed by an afternoon field session. In the afternoon we get out and onto the snow. Evening seminar to follow.

Day 2 - 5: Each day there will be a field trip to a different area. These will be in the Rockies within a 50km radius (including the Lake Louise Ski Area), the Purcell Mountains near Golden, B.C. (45min. drive) and Rogers Pass is 1.5hrs away. Destinations will be decided on weather and snow conditions. Evening seminars will be organized on some of the evenings.

Day 6: Final day. The course finishes after a last field trip.

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Instructors and Group Size

Your instructors are certified by the internationally recognized Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and also licensed by Parks Canada. There will be a maximum of 6 participants per instructor.

How difficult is it? How fit and experienced need you be?

Expect to be skiing in some difficult areas including trees. This means that participants must be strong intermediate downhill skiers (on either telemark or 'alpine' gear) willing to try new places and able to remain in control when necessary. This does not mean you must be an expert as we will show you a few ‘tricks’ that will help you ski in 'tight' places. You must be in good physical condition. No prior ski mountaineering experience needed. This program is not suitable for snowboarding.

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