This course combines a thorough AIARE Level 2 curriculum with additional considerations for guiding or leading ski tours in mountain terrain with avalanche hazard. This four-day comprehensive course is based in and around the Sawtooth and Boulder-Smoky Mountains with locations between 6,500 ft. to over 10,000 ft., and is excellent continuing education for those who have completed a Level 1 field course.

Held in the Stanley Basin of central Idaho, our group will have a variety of mountain environments close at hand during the four days to develop avalanche skills considered fundamental to becoming proficient as a practitioner and observer, as well as to develop skills backcountry travel leadership. Course topics include: mountain weather, snow pack processes, snow stability evaluation tests, observation and record keeping to industry standards. & Avalanche forecasting skills. Emphases on touring skills include: route planning, group handling/ski guiding techniques, and field-based decision making. Current Level 1 training and several years of backcountry experience is a pre-requisite to participate.

Day 1:

• L2 Pre-Test Review
• Observations Seasonal- Field Book Use/ Record keeping (SWAG)
• Advanced Companion Rescue/ Updates Technology/ Techniques
• Observations Practical
• Snowpack processes/ Weather / Wx & Snow Lab

Day 2:

• AM Hazard Forecast/ Tour Planning for Day
• Study Pits- Information Gathering/OBS./ Tests/ Test Pits
• Snowpack Stability/Terrain Analysis/Backcountry Travel
• Instability Factors- Data Class for Obs.
• Graphical Snow Pit Plotting
• Hazard Forecasting over large Terrain scales
• Tour Planning Skills- Maps/ Route Selection Pre-Tour

Day 3:

• AM Hazard Forecast/ Tour Planning for Day
• Tour to make observations and collect Information
• Snow Pack tests over terrain/ Tour Scale Observations
• PM Meeting- Formal Instability Discussion- Daily Summary
• Avalanche Formation & Release/ Fracture Mechanics
• Slab Fracture Type and Tests – Decision Tools
• Human Factors vs. Uncertainty
• L2 Case Study-- FACETS

Day 4:

• AM Hazard Forecast/ Tour Planning for Day
• Snowpack Test Review/ Limits/ False Stability
• Snow Pits II- Other Tests to match Avalanche-Instability type
• Summarize Snow Observer and Leadership Skills
• Course Wrap-Up—Feedback

Kirk Bachman: Course Leader (see profile).

$550.00 (Includes instruction and course materials. Does not include food, lodging or tax. Participants will receive a course completion card for Level II Avalanche Field Training

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