Intro to Avalanches: Human-Powered for Teens

This course is an opportunity to get your hands in the snow and gain familiarity with essential concepts and practices for travel in avalanche-prone terrain. With a Thursday evening classroom session at FVCC and a weekend field day, this course offers 11 hours of instruction time. We will cover avalanche terminology, identifying avalanche hazards, snowpack and weather factors, trip planning and preparation, simple decision-making tools, backcountry travel protocols, and companion rescue techniques.

This class is geared toward students ages 16-19.

Course Fee: $120

2026/27 Dates:

• Human-Powered, January 7th and 9th
• Motorized, January 14th and 16th
• Ladies Human Powered, January 28th and 30th
• Human-Powered for Teens, February 4th and 6th

Evening sessions are on Thursdays at FVCC from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday sessions are in the field from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Human-powered field days will take place at Whitefish Mountain Resort. Locations for motorized field days are TBD on the Flathead National Forest. Information and directions will be provided to students before the course date.