Women's Avalanche Awareness Class

Utah Avalanche Center and Black Diamond Equipment Presents the 2012-2013 Avalanche Education Series

Evening Session:  Thursday, Feb 7, 2013 - 6pm-9pm @ Red Butte Garden 

Field Session:  Saturday, Feb 9, 2013 - 8:30am-5:00pm @ Brighton 

The Utah Avalanche Center has teamed up with SheJumps to bring you this women's only course. 

This course is designed accommodate both women who are beginners and those who have taken a class or spend a decent amount of time in the backcountry and would like to brush up on their skills. For the field day, we will be dividing up into groups by experience, ability and interest, with a ratio of 6 students with one instructor.

The format is a 3 hour lecture on Thursday evening and an 8 hour field day on Saturday.  The course is led by Evelyn Lees, a long-time U.S. Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center Forecaster and mountain guide.  Evelyn will be supported by a team of women, all avalanche professionals, leading smaller field day groups.  

The evening session will start with avalanche basics – which will provide a review for more advanced students, and an introduction for the beginners.  Terrain and Safe Travel will also be covered.  We will then divide up into 2 groups as needed.

The beginner group will continue on with a basic introduction to companion rescue (beacon searching, probing and recovery), a tour of the UAC web site, and Obvious Clues for forecasting in the field.

The more advanced students will cover topics such as the snow stability wheel (structure, energy, strength), decision-making exercises, a review of current avalanche conditions, and the characteristics of the 8 avalanche threats.

This 10 hour course for skiers, snowboarders, and snowshoers of all ages and credos.  We welcome tele skiers, fixed heel skiers, snowboarders, splitboarders, free riders, new schoolers, old schoolers, powder hounds, locals, resort riders, soul riders, backcountry riders, hikers, snowshoe explorers, and everyone in between.  The course is appropriate for everyone from seasoned backcountry users looking for a modern refresher to those who are new to backcountry terrain.   We will get out in avalanche terrain to practice our stability assessment and decision making skills.

This class is a means of furthering your skills and to spend time with avalanche professionals honing and refreshing your existing skills.  You will leave this class understanding the most recent thinking about safe travel in avalanche terrain and with a heightened awareness of the avalanche issues we face in Utah.  It’s also a great way to connect with other women interested in touring.

Field topics include:

• How weather affects avalanche risk
• How to identify and manage avalanche terrain
• Using the local avalanche forecast to understand current conditions
• Stability assessment techniques
• Snowpack evaluation
• Safe travel protocol
• Understanding how we make decisions in the backcountry
• Companion rescue techniques

About SheJumps:

SheJumps strives to increase female participation in outdoor activities by building upon a supportive community that inspires its members to reach their highest potential. Through mentorship from professional and recreational athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, we encourage you to answer the question "what would you dare to accomplish if you knew the only possible outcome was success?".  To find out more and connect with ladies in your area join our online network at www.shejumps.ning.com.

 Details:

 Location:

• Thursday 6 - 9 pm on the 2nd floor of the Red Butte Gardens main building at the North end of Wakara Way in Research Park; 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 
• Saturday 8:30 - 4:00 pm at Brighton in Big Cottonwood Canyon

 Cost:  $130 for both sessions (all proceeds go to the Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center & SheJumps)

Required gear:  Beacon, shovel, probe, (we have loaners available) for field day, method of uphill transport (ie: touring setup) 

Brighton has generously provided 1 ride lift tickets to get us up high quickly and easily

Questions:  contact Devin@utahavalanchecenter.org