Motorized Avalanche Rec Level 1

by Clare

Develop essential skills for snowmobiling in avalanche terrain including trip planning, hazard management, group communication, and terrain choice. This curriculum is designed specifically to meet the needs of motorized users. With one evening/midweek classroom session and a weekend field day, this course offers 24 hours of instruction time.

Classroom sessions (evening Zoom): Tuesday, January 23 and Wednesday, January 24
Field sessions: Saturday, January 27 and Sunday, January 28

Locations TBD on Flathead National Forest. Information and directions will be provided to students before the course date.

Using the AIARE Risk Management Framework, our Motorized Level 1 emphasizes riding time and covers topics such as avalanche rescue techniques and equipment; preparation, planning, and execution of a backcountry ride based on avalanche conditions; how to track the season’s snowpack and interpret an avalanche bulletin; avalanche terrain identification, hazard mitigation and safe travel techniques; and weather, snowpack, and stability analysis. This is an essential course for any backcountry rider.

 

Offered with The Mountain Riding Lab

Intro to Avalanches: Human-Powered

by Clare

3/6/24 UPDATE: THIS COURSE HAS BEEN CANCELED. CONTACT EDUCATION@FLATHEADAVALANCHE.ORG FOR MORE INFO

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. This course offers 11 hours of instruction time, with a midweek evening classroom session at FVCC on Thursday, March 7 and a field day at WMR on Saturday, March 9. 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.

Transportation is on your own. Dress appropriately for all weather conditions. Provide your own lunch. You are required to have a fully operational modern avalanche transceiver (457kHz), an avalanche shovel (no plastic blades) and an avalanche probe. You are required to have downhill (or backcountry) skis or snowboard with appropriate bindings. You do not need a splitboard or climbing skins for this course. 

Intro to Avalanches: Human-Powered

by Clare

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. This course offers 11 hours of instruction time, with a midweek evening classroom session at FVCC on Thursday, February 22 and a field day at WMR on Saturday, February 24. 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.

Transportation is on your own. Dress appropriately for all weather conditions. Provide your own lunch. You are required to have a fully operational modern avalanche transceiver (457kHz), an avalanche shovel (no plastic blades) and an avalanche probe. You are required to have downhill (or backcountry) skis or snowboard with appropriate bindings. You do not need a splitboard or climbing skins for this course. 

Intro to Avalanches: Human-Powered Ladies

by Clare

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. This course offers 11 hours of instruction time, with a midweek evening classroom session at FVCC on Thursday, February 1 and a field day at WMR on Saturday, February 3. 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.

Transportation is on your own. Dress appropriately for all weather conditions. Provide your own lunch. You are required to have a fully operational modern avalanche transceiver (457kHz), an avalanche shovel (no plastic blades) and an avalanche probe. You are required to have downhill (or backcountry) skis or snowboard with appropriate bindings. You do not need a splitboard or climbing skins for this course. 

Intro to Avalanches: Human-Powered

by Clare

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. This course offers 11 hours of instruction time, with a midweek evening classroom session at FVCC on Thursday, February 18 and a field day at WMR on Saturday, January 20. 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.

Transportation is on your own. Dress appropriately for all weather conditions. Provide your own lunch. You are required to have a fully operational modern avalanche transceiver (457kHz), an avalanche shovel (no plastic blades) and an avalanche probe. You are required to have downhill (or backcountry) skis or snowboard with appropriate bindings. You do not need a splitboard or climbing skins for this course. 

Partner Rescue: Human-Powered

by Clare

Are you confident in your ability to rescue your backcountry partners in the event of an avalanche? These skills are perishable and important to practice every winter, as well as throughout the season. During the morning portion of this clinic, you will rotate between stations practicing the three key pieces of rescue gear: beacon, shovel, and probe. In the afternoon, we’ll put your skills to the test with a mock companion rescue, including a debrief.

This partner rescue clinic will focus on avalanche rescue skills for small recreational groups. Expect outside lectures, combined with hands on training. A rescue clinic focuses on avalanche rescue skills for small recreational groups.

You are required to have a fully operational modern avalanche transceiver (457kHz), an avalanche shovel (no plastic blades) and an avalanche probe. You are required to have downhill (or backcountry) skis or snowboard with appropriate bindings. You do not need climbing skins.

Partner Rescue: Human-Powered Refresher

by Clare

**CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER. May be rescheduled.**

Are you confident in your ability to rescue your backcountry partners in the event of an avalanche? These skills are perishable and important to practice every winter, as well as throughout the season. During the morning portion of this clinic, you will rotate between stations practicing the three key pieces of rescue gear: beacon, shovel, and probe. In the afternoon, we’ll put your skills to the test with a mock companion rescue, including a debrief.

This is not a beginner class; it is designed for people who already have some avalanche education.

This partner rescue clinic will focus on avalanche rescue skills for small recreational groups. Expect outside lectures, combined with hands on training. A rescue clinic focuses on avalanche rescue skills for small recreational groups.

You are required to have a fully operational modern avalanche transceiver (457kHz), an avalanche shovel (no plastic blades) and an avalanche probe. You are required to have downhill (or backcountry) skis or snowboard with appropriate bindings. You do not need climbing skins.

Partner Rescue: Human-Powered Ladies

by Clare

Are you confident in your ability to rescue your backcountry partners in the event of an avalanche? These skills are perishable and important to practice every winter, as well as throughout the season. During the morning portion of this clinic, you will rotate between stations practicing the three key pieces of rescue gear: beacon, shovel, and probe. In the afternoon, we’ll put your skills to the test with a mock companion rescue, including a debrief.

This partner rescue clinic will focus on avalanche rescue skills for small recreational groups. Expect outside lectures, combined with hands on training. A rescue clinic focuses on avalanche rescue skills for small recreational groups.

You are required to have a fully operational modern avalanche transceiver (457kHz), an avalanche shovel (no plastic blades) and an avalanche probe. You are required to have downhill (or backcountry) skis or snowboard with appropriate bindings. You do not need climbing skins.