Avalanche Awareness Course
Why Take An Avalanche Awareness Course?
This fully online course serves as an introduction to the basics of avalanche education. Included will be discussions regarding avalanche type & dynamics, terrain, weather, required gear, rescue techniques, backcountry hazards and snowpack evaluation.
This course is recommended as the first step in your avalanche education as it’s the perfect primer for your initial season of ski touring, getting ready for a REC 1 avalanche course or as a avalanche refresher course. Students that participate in the Avalanche Awareness Course range from beginners to experienced backcountry skiers. This course should be paired with learning from experienced partners.
What Topics Are Covered?
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Introductions to avalanche terminology, types and dynamics. The first module will lay the foundation for a long career of backcountry skiing.
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Discussions of the avalanche triangle and how weather, snowpack and terrain ultimately interact with the human factor.
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Full, in-depth review of avalanche rescue techniques and applications.
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Travel considerations, incorporating safe decision making to maximize safety while recreating in the backcountry environment.
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Understanding how to read and convey an avalanche forecast. From surface level information to a deeper understanding of all that goes into the daily forecast.
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Investigations into a case study of a recent avalanche accident and to understand the potential root cause in terms of snow, terrain, weather and human factors.
Take A Look At A Sample
Our course is broken up into bite sized videos. With the Mountain Training Center, gone are the days of four hour-long zoom lectures. Instead, we provide self paced, high quality videos that you can watch and rewatch throughout the season
Frequently Asked Questions
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None! This is an introductory avalanche course, something that is encouraged to be taken before entering a REC 1 avalanche course.
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Anyone! Whether you're a complete beginner or somebody looking to refresh their knowledge, this course will bring you up to speed.
While the focus is human powered backcountry recreation (ski, hike, climb), all of the information is applicable to machine powered recreation (snow bike, snowmobile). -
That is not the intention. This course is meant to be a great educational primer for somebody that plans to gain experience with established guides or partners.
For example, since this is an online format, you do not get real world practice of avalanche rescue. Rather, you're educated on the process so that you can then go practice with partners in the field.
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Online Avalanche Awareness Course
$100 - Access For A Year