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2008

2008

New This Year

CGI is proud to announce that we will be teaching the two day Canadian Avalanche Association designed Avalanche Skills Training Course Level 1. This Level 1 Course is designed by the premier organization in the world in avalanche training with the recreational skier and climber in mind .

 

Course Dates and Prices

Description
The two day Level 1 Course provides a complete introduction to the avalanche phenomenon, avalanche terrain, decision making, and rescue. It is an ideal first course for those new to travel in avalanche terrain and a great review or upgrade for anyone who has some experience or prior training but feels they need a skills "tune-up."

Prerequisites
Students must have the ability to travel in avalanche terrain. There are no other prerequisites.

Courses fill quickly. Other dates and courses possible through arrangement.

AST Level I Two Days
Price $225, includes use of an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe.
Maximum class size 12:1 classroom, 6:1 field
Dates:
Dec 15-16, 2007
Jan 12-13, 2008
Jan 26-27, 2008
Feb 9-10, 2008
Feb 23-24,2008
Mar 8-9, 2008

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Avalanche Skills Training Philosophy

The Avalanche Skills Training Level 1 and 2 courses are focused on providing the recreational skier and climber a curriculum directed at their needs. The Level 1 is a two day course that allows you to take a course over a weekend. The focus of the recreatioal courses is not on the complex and difficult skill of forecasting, its focus is in avalanche avoidance. The course combines a basic knowledge of snowpack layering, with a strong emphasis in avalanche terrain recognition. This is designed to give the student the tools to understand the risks and where appropriate to avoid either the terrain or snowpack that is causing the risk.

Although professionals and recreational users need much of the same information there are many aspects of snow science that are not practical for the recreational user. Courses that mix recreational users with professionals tend to emphasize snow science and standardized note taking. Although some snow science is important, often the tools and techniques that are taught are only necessary to allow a forecaster to track changes in the snowpack over a long period of time. This often comes at the expense of more useful information for the recreational user such as; decision making, trip planning and terrain assessment.

The CAA system of education separates the professional tract from the recreational. To qualify for the first CAA professional course one must have a strong recreational background along with some formal recreational courses. The first pro course is a week long and ends in an exam. The skills taught allow one to be competent in collecting the data required to make a forecast. The second CAA professional course is broken into 3 modules totaling 15 days usually taken over 2 years. To enter that course requires that you have completed the first professional course and then have the work experience of ">100 days of operational field experience in weather, snowpack & avalanche occurrence observations & analysis". The second course is focused on forecasting and infrastructure planning in and around avalanche terrain.

By separating the professional tract from the recreational the CAA frees itself to focus on the needs of each user group. This allows for a more efficient curriculum making the right information more accessible to the recreational user. In this way only the professional is burdened with courses and exams focusing on complex snow science and standardized note taking skills that are critical in a professional environment. For more information about the professional curriculum of the CAA check out www.avalanche.ca

Avalanche Skills Training Level 1 Outline

Classroom Session Suggested Time (Hours)
Introduction 0.3*
Formation and Nature of Avalanches 0.5
Avalanche Terrain 0.7*
Factors Affecting Snow Stability 0.5
Mountain Snowpack - Introduction 0.5
Winter Backcountry Travel 1.0
Assessing Avalanche Danger 0.5
Safety Measures and Self Rescue/Transceivers 1.0*
Video 1.0*
Conclusion and evaluation by students (end of course) 0.5

Suggested classroom total 6.0
Minimum classroom total 4.0**


Field Session Suggested Time (Hours)
Terrain Recognition
Route Finding
Safe Travel
Group Management
Stability Evaluation
Hazard Recognition
Small Party Self Rescue

Suggested field total 10.0
Minimum field total 7.0**

Course Time (Hours)
Minimum 16.0***

* Subjects where times may be adjusted by more or less field emphasis.
** If minimum time is used in one venue, time in the other must be increased to ensure the total time in both venues is at least the course minimum.

*** Course total must be a minimum of 16 hours of which at least 4 must be in the classroom and at least 7 must be in the field.

Avalanche Skills Training Level 2


The CAA has a four day AST Level 2 course. The course requires terrain that is more diverse and accessible than what is available here in the Northeast US. We take very seriously the importance of a quality course. Through experience we have found that it is difficult if not impossible to teach such a high level course here without nearly perfect conditions. For that reason we will not be scheduling a Level 2 course in this area. We are considering a course in western Canada in the future.

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