Avalanche Level 1 Refresher

This module lays out the foundational principles of avalanche formation, characteristics, and risk. Students will review avalanche types, classifications, and the avalanche triangle, while revisiting accident statistics to reinforce the real-world consequences of avalanche involvement. Real avalanche examples and review questions help students reconnect prior knowledge to practical application in the field.

This module refreshes students’ ability to recognize and evaluate terrain features that influence avalanche hazard. Students will review slope angle, aspect, elevation, slope shape, and terrain traps, while also learning practical tools for terrain analysis and trip planning. The goal is to strengthen terrain assessment skills so students can make more deliberate and risk-aware decisions in the backcountry.

This module refreshes students’ understanding of how weather and climate influence snowpack stability and avalanche hazard. Students will review the three primary snow climates—continental, intermountain, and maritime—and learn how weather events such as snowfall, wind, and temperature changes impact avalanche conditions. This knowledge helps students anticipate how the snowpack may evolve and factor weather trends into their decision-making.

We review students’ understanding of snowpack structure and the processes that lead to avalanche formation. Students will review the “avalanche recipe,” snow metamorphism, and the importance of season-long snowpack history in creating instability. Real-world video examples reinforce how these factors combine to produce avalanches and the hazards they present to backcountry travelers.

This module refreshes students’ understanding of how human factors influence avalanche accidents and decision-making in the backcountry. Students will review common cognitive traps, key red flags, and practical strategies to improve their odds of making safer choices. Real-world case studies across different snow climates help students connect these concepts to realistic scenarios and strengthen their personal decision-making framework.

We take a look at how to make intentional in-field observations and use snowpits as a tool to understand snowpack structure and stability. You’ll review common snowpack tests, their limitations, and how to record observations clearly so they support real-world decision making, not just good notes.

This module refreshes how to gather and interpret avalanche information before and during a tour, with a focus on using forecasts effectively. You’ll review the North American Danger Scale, explore real forecast tools, and practice integrating public observations and historical accident data to build a clearer picture of current conditions.

You’ll learn safe travel practices from trip planning through post-tour debriefs, emphasizing habits that reduce exposure rather than relying on luck. You’ll revisit terrain identification and avoidance, in-field rituals, and simple tests that support ongoing risk management while traveling in avalanche terrain.

This module refreshes the critical components of avalanche rescue, with an emphasis on speed, organization, and effective use of rescue equipment. You’ll review rescue timelines, survival considerations, and the core steps of a companion rescue to reinforce skills that matter when seconds count.

We review the gear systems that support safe and efficient backcountry travel, from avalanche equipment to clothing, packs, and travel-specific ski gear. You’ll revisit how to build a practical, layered setup and choose the right extras so your kit supports good decisions instead of becoming a distraction in the field.