CGI Avalanche Courses

Course Descriptions Dates and Prices

Two Day Avalanche Awareness 1
Description
The two day CGI Avalanche Awareness 1 Course provides an 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 for anyone who has some experience or prior training but feels they need a skills "tune-up." The main feature of this course is its rule based decision making methodology whose foundation is based on Ian McCammon's obvious clues process found in the Avaluator.

A rule based system simplifies the decision making process for people new to avalanche terrain. Most US avalanche courses are now more judgement based in their decision making methodology. The rule based system employs a tool that gives the user a clear indication of the risks based on historical data. The judgement based system focuses on scientific concepts and skills then asks the decision maker to collect, sort and prioritize that information to come to a decision. This complex thought process can be a powerful method for those with a solid knowledge base and depth of experience but it is not something someone can learn in a two or three day course.

Here is how Ian McCammon puts it:
"In future avalanche courses, instructors may well have a choice between two paths:

In the first, novices will learn concepts and skills that are scientifically accurate but difficult for them to apply. Their decision making, when done properly, will consist of tediously sorting through large amounts of snowpack, terrain and weather information that they only vaguely know how to prioritize, only to arrive at an ambiguous answer. Most of them will quickly tire of this approach and will instead make their choices based on unconscious biases or unfounded intuition. They will use their avalanche knowledge more often to justify their decisions than to arrive at them. They will travel for many seasons in avalanche terrain using this strategy, believing that their decision making is sound. When they are finally caught, and perhaps killed, it will be under avalanche conditions so obvious that a novice would have recognized them. Snow science will advance, changing the information taught in avalanche courses. But the circumstances of accidents will remain the same, repeating themselves over and over again, year after year.

In the second path, students will be taught how to rate their exposure to avalanche hazard using a simple numerical decision tool. The tool will be easy to learn and easy to use. It will not predict all possible avalanche conditions, just the 95% or so that happen under obvious conditions. Students will also learn how much their risk is reduced by wearing a beacon, traveling one at a time, and not skiing alone. Using these tools, their decisions in avalanche terrain will be relatively quick, and their decision tools will show them when their decisions are influenced by unconscious biases. When accidents do occur, they will be under unusual conditions, or when individuals knowingly choose to accept high levels of risk. Over time, these accidents will be reflected in the statistics, and new decision tools will emerge. Most importantly, accident victims will no longer die in vain; the lessons of their deaths will by passed on to the next generation of mountain travelers."
Ian McCammon
Sex, Drugs and the White Death: Lessons for Avalanche Educators from Health and Safety Campaigns

For CGI the future is now and we have and will continue to introduce the recreational skier and climber to the avalanche phenomena with a rule based decision making methodology.

Avalanche Awareness 1
2 Days
Price $225, includes an Avaluator, Backcountry Avalanche Awareness by Bruce Jamieson and the use of an Avalanche Transceiver, Shovel and Probe.
Maximum class size 10 people
Dates:
DEC 20-21, 2008
Jan 3-4, 2009
Jan 24-25, 2009
Jan 31-Feb 1, 2009
Feb 28-Mar 1,2009
Prerequisites
Students must have the physical ability to travel to and in avalanche terrain. There are no other prerequisites.
Courses fill quickly. Other dates and courses possible through arrangement.

Three Day AIARE Level 1
Description
The AIARE Level 1 curriculum is best described as an introduction to judgement based decision making in avalanche avoidance. There will still be a rule based model in use in the background but more weight will be given to personal observations and a constant reevaluation of the data and the priority that data is given. This course is for the recreational skier and climber that has some prior formal training and a significant amount of experience already in avalanche terrain. The AIARE Level 1 can also be considered an introduction to the professional levels of training that mountain guides and other avalanche professionals go through. The Level 1 is a prerequisite for the AIARE Level 2 course and Level 3 course and certification that is necessary for the AMGA Ski and Alpine Guide Certifications.

Three Day AIARE Level 1
Price $350 Maximum class size 5 people
Dates: Feb 14-15-16
Prerequisites
Participants need to have avalanche rescue gear, alpine touring or telemark skis and skins or a splitboard with skins. Participants are strongly recommended to have a two day avalanche course previously and must have a background traveling in avalanche terrain prior to this course. We will be in terrain that requires solid ski or riding skills.

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