Provided by Utah Mountain Adventures
Salt Lake
Friday, January 31, 2020
Jan 31 - Feb 2: Fri - Sun (8AM-5PM). The Recreational Avalanche Level 2 focus is on decision-making for experienced backcountry travelers seeking to ski or climb bigger lines; travel in diverse terrain and snowpacks; or ski out-of-bounds safely even when avalanche danger is considerable or high.
Avalanche Level 2 (Recreational)
This advanced, 24-hour course is designed to advance the practical knowledge of backcountry travelers with prior Level 1 and Avalanche Rescue training with at least one season of experience, seeking to build decision-making, forecasting, route-finding and leadership skills for recreational mountaineering, ski touring, split-boarding, snowmobiling, ice climbing, etc.
Course Description:
The Recreational Avalanche Level 2 focus is on decision-making for experienced backcountry travelers seeking to ski or climb bigger lines; travel in diverse terrain and snow packs; or ski out-of-bounds safely even when avalanche danger is considerable or high.
Professional (Pro) Avi 1 and 2, by contrast, are aimed at training avalanche professionals (ski patroller, guides, forecasters, etc.) Precise record-keeping; technical report writing; operational decisions; stringent, timed rescue tests; detailed study plots and data pits, all integral to pro curriculum, are NOT part of Rec Avi 2. Instead, broadly experienced UMA guides share w/ students the practical tools they actually use to make consequential up and downhill route-finding decisions efficiently and effectively.
This course will cover the following:
- Weather & snowpack history; current structure and layering
- Use of local advisory and other relevant available information
- Creating a hazard rating in remote terrain where no advisory exists
- Student tour planning using maps, apps, timelines and safe margins
- Scale of terrain; paths & specific features; mapping snow cover
- Group management in complex, committing terrain & snow packs
- Characteristics & distribution of 7 primary avalanche problems
- Prioritizing snowpack tests and observations based on current problems
- Snow pit practices: hardness, shears, tests (CT, ECT, PST, DTT)
- Interpretation of test results (strength, structure, propagation, etc)
- Persistent weak layers (facets, depth hoar, surface hoar, etc)
- Clear & concise recording of observations; SWAG guidelines; snow profiles
- Student-led analyses of avalanche accidents to promote learning
- Group communication, teamwork and decision-making tools
The schedule includes lectures on Friday morning, followed by an afternoon field session. Saturday is a full-day, advanced ski tour after a morning meeting. Sunday includes a pre-brief before student-led tours and snowpack tests. We finish indoors by 5 pm with talks and interactive lessons.
The course is 40% classroom-based and 60% field based. Travel is in and around backcountry avalanche terrain. Instructors are American Avalanche Association pro members, highly trained and experienced guides, instructors and athletes in various terrain, weather and snow packs.
The graduate of this course will have an improved grasp of snowpack processes & stability tests; terrain management & safe travel; and avoiding human factor traps.
Register here or contact Utah Mountain Adventures:
email: [email protected]
phone: 801-550-3986