Format:

Two (2) evening Zoom sessions + Two (2) full-day field components

Student-to-instructor ratio: 4 to 1

Maximum class size: 12 participants

Date | Location: 

Tuesday 1.10.23 & Thursday 1.12.23 | Online Classroom Session 6 – 10 PM MST | 8 Hours Total

Saturday 1.14.23 & Sunday 1.15.23  | Lolo Pass backcountry | 8 AM – 4 PM MST | 16 Hours Total

Price: $520.00

Avalanche Level 1

The Avalanche Level 1 course curriculum is designed for current and aspiring backcountry travelers. This course focuses on developing a solid foundation in avalanche knowledge and backcountry travel skills. Following the American Avalanche Association (A3) guidelines, educators cover systematic approaches for sorting and prioritizing information in the complex decision-making environment in the backcountry. Forty percent of the course is classroom-based, and sixty percent is field-based. Participants complete two evening classroom sessions and spend two full days traveling in the backcountry focused on the following learning objectives.

This course focuses on the following:

• Basic avalanche terminology
• Recognizing avalanche terrain
• Travel procedures in avalanche terrain
• Formation of the mountain snowpack
• How weather changes the snowpack
• Human factors and how they can influence decision-making
• Interpreting the avalanche forecast and advisory
• Tour planning
• Avalanche transceiver use and rescue skills
• Field observations of terrain, snowpack, and weather
• Use and interpretation of stability tests
• Prioritizing information, working as a team, and minimizing possible human factor traps
• Next steps

Course includes:

• Professional instruction
• Course workbooks
• Online classroom and field instruction
• Lift tickets for courses operating out of a ski area

Participants provide:

• Transportation to and from each field section
• Personal gear
• Avalanche rescue gear
• Food & water

Course Registration:

Sorry, this course is full. Please visit the education page for upcoming events and additional course offerings.