Courses

Level 2 Tour Leadership and Avalanche Hazard
  • February 25-28, 2010 (SMG Headquarters)

Avalanche Level 2

Course Overview

This intensive four-day course integrates the thorough curriculum of a field-based avalanche school with a solid introduction to guiding and leading ski tours in mountainous terrain with avalanche hazard. The course will be based from SMG headquarters in Lower Stanley which provides a central location for a variety of tours and access to lecture facilities. The Tour Leadership and Avalanche Hazard Level II course is excellent continuing education for those who have taken a Level I training. The course format is based on an early morning lecture and group discussion followed by all day in the field , a break for dinner, and an evening lecture.

Trip Format

Day 1: 8:00AM Meeting Lower Stanley, SMG Headquarters; Introduction: Course Goals. Overview of Mtn. Snowpack and Weather events of the season in the Sawtooths. Skill Review: transceivers use/ types, search patterns avalanche rescue response; Stability Tests active vs. snowpit; roadside tour to examine snowpack at different elevations, different slope aspects, localities. Recording from the Day in the Field Notebook. Evening presentations: Lab Weather Skills related to Avalanche Forecasting ; Daily Avalanche Forecasting; Perspective from the Sawtooth Avalanche Center.

Day 2: 8:00AM Morning Weather- Avalanche Forecast; Indirect Data Collecting; Field Sessions: Half-day Workshop: Quantifiable tests and Record keeping in the Snowpit: Standards for snowpit techniques; Observations and trends leading to Stability Scores; Half-day Assessing Snowpack stability vs. Terrain Analysis: snow distribution, loading, trigger points/ tender areas; Decision-making and Risk Assessment; Managing your ski group; Conducting the day-end meeting—Review of the day in the Field. Evening presentation: Ski Guiding: Aspects of Tour Leadership. Avalanche Hazard vs. Tour objectives; Obs. Redflags: Common Mistakes leading to Avalanche Incidents; Heuristics; The Human Factor. Tour Planning for Day 3 Tour.

Day 3: Alpine start 7:00AM: Morning Weather / Avalanche Forecast for alpine tour northern Sawtooths (McGown Peak); Tour Plan and implementation participants: Route selection, track settting, group handling through day, snow stability evaluation while on tour. End of day Field Review. Evening presentations: Snow Climates: considerations for tours in various locations (local, regional, international); Ski Guiding in Greenland, the Himalaya, Alaska.

Day 4: Start TBA; Tour Leadership Skill Review Workshops: Avalanche Rescue; Route Planning and working Terrain with your Group: Snowpack Stability Tests/Evaluation; Snow Science: Improving your technical understanding of Snow. Constructive evaluation of participants/ feedback from instructors (optional). Course End

Instructors

Kirk Bachman and Steve Conger. See profiles.

Registration and Fees

$500.00--includes instruction and course materials. Participants will receive a course completion card for Level II Avalanche Field Training

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Avalanche Courses

Top: Preforming a cornice cut, one of the best stability tests.
Sawtooth Mountain Guides P.O. Box 18 Stanley, Idaho 83278 USA
Ph (208)774-3324 Fax (208) 774-3729
getaway@sawtoothguides.com