Decision Making In Avalanche Terrain
The level one course is a 3 day/24 hour introduction to avalanche hazard and management.
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).
Student Learning Outcomes
- At the end of the 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
Student Prerequisites
Students must :
- Be prepared for both inside and outside coursework
- Be able to travel in avalanche terrain on skis, or splitboard
- Have previous experience skiing with a pack
- Have previous experience using climbing skins and backcountry style bindings
- Have previous experience skiing off piste or ungroomed conditions
Course Locations
Bend Location: Dates to be determined for the 2020/21 season
Mt Hood Location: Dates to be determined for the 2020/21 season