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Course
Dates & Prices
Contact Us About a Course
New
This Year |
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Course
Dates and Prices
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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
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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
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Avalanche
Skills Training Level 1 Outline
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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***
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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.
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Avalanche
Skills Training Level 2
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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.
© Chauvin Guides International, P.O. Box 2151, North Conway, NH 03860 Voice: 603-356-8919