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2011-12 Silverton Avalanche School Course Descriptions

Level I Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain:

Silverton Avalanche School's Level I Course continues to be the ideal choice for backcountry travelers, providing the right combination of class time and true backcountry experience. The comprehensive curriculum includes:

• Terrain Evaluation
• Safe Travel Protocols
• Route Finding
• Tour Preparation
• Decision Making
• Avalanche Equipment
• Companion Rescue
• Human Factors
• Mountain Weather
• Snowpack Development
• Recognizing Instabilities in the Snowpack
• Using Observations and Tests
• Simple Snow Pit Profiles
• How to Apply the Current Avalanche Bulletin to Tour Planning

Morning sessions introduce the concepts to students. Afternoon field sessions in backcountry terrain provide hands-on experience and ensure quality field time with our top-notch staff. Friday and Saturday afternoon, and most of Sunday, students travel into backcountry ski terrain in small groups with instructors.

These experiential sessions examine topics discussed in the classroom. All students will be able to practice companion rescue, route finding and terrain analysis, dig snowpits, and conduct stability tests. Unlike many avalanche courses, Silverton Avalanche School students gain experience in the wild backcountry rather than a ski area.

The rugged San Juan Mountains surrounding Silverton have provided the ideal avalanche education classroom since 1962. The Silverton Avalanche School is a member of the American Avalanche Association (AAA). Our instructors are avalanche professionals and are certified with AIARE, AAA and/or the Canadian Avalanche Association. Many instructors also have an advanced degree in snow science.

Students get the AIARE Field Book and Course Manual as a part of the course cost.

Level II Analyzing Snow Stability and Avalanche Hazards

The Level II is a four-day workshop for those who have completed a three-day Level I Avalanche course. This course is geared toward backcountry travelers who have applied their Level I skills and are either aspiring professionals or recreationists who are ready for more advanced knowledge and skills.

This class will focus on the latest technical and scientific aspects of avalanche study and hazard assessment. Students should come having spent time in the backcountry, practiced with their beacons, and have reviewed their Level I material.

Level II Course Objectives

• To improve the students avalanche hazard evaluation and personal forecasting. 
  

• To teach professional methods for weather and snowpack data collection and documentation. 
  
• To practice route finding skills and applying forecasts to terrain. 
  
• To gain more experience dealing with complex companion rescue.

Level II Curriculum
Tour Planning, Snowpack Metamorphism, Avalanche Mechanics, Observations: standards and recording, Forecasts, Mountain Weather, Route Finding, Stability Assessment, Decision Making, Group Management, Full and Test Pit Profiles, Rescue Leadership and Multiple Burial Scenarios.

Level II Field Sessions
Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoon and most of the day on Sunday will be spent traveling into the backcountry with an instructor to participate in experiential sessions that examine topics discussed in the classroom. Field sessions include: multiple burial companion rescue, route finding and safe travel, backcountry stability assessment, full and test pit profiles, fracture line profiles and a snow crystallography lab. These sessions will also be an opportunity for instructors to evaluate where students need continued study to best support their aspirations.

The rugged San Juan Mountains surrounding Silverton have provided the ideal avalanche education classroom since 1962. The Silverton Avalanche School is a member of the American Avalanche Association (AAA). Our instructors are avalanche professionals and are certified with AIARE, AAA and/or the Canadian Avalanche Association. Many of our instructors also have an advanced degree in snow science and have presented new methods and techniques at the International Snow Science Workshop (ISSW).

SAMPLE DAILY SCHEDULE FOR LEVEL 2 COURSE: (DETAILED SCHEDULE pdf)

Cancellation Policy for all courses:   A $35.00 fee is charged for course date transfers. 60% of the course cost can be refunded up to 30 days prior to the course start.  No refunds are provided for cancellations made less than 30 days prior to the start of the course for which you are registered. Unfortunately we cannot give refunds, rainchecks or cancellations if passes into Silverton are closed (best arrive early if the weather forecast is big).

Students receive Snow, Weather and Avalanches: Observation Guidelines for Avalanche Programs in the United States 2010 edition AAA, USFS. as a part of the course.  We also recommend that students read the Avalanche Handbook (3rd edition) prior to the course.  Students use an AIARE Field Book and a course manual which are also included in the cost.

Professional Development Courses