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Course
Descriptions Dates and Prices
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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
17-18, 2011
Jan 21-22, 2012
Feb 4-5, 2012
March 3-4, 2012
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 judgment
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. AIARE does not require any prerequisites
but since the terrain in the Northeast is difficult to get to CGI requires
that you are able to skin and climb into the terrain we have. This likely
means you need some experience in the terrain and since we never advise
anyone to venture into avalanche terrain without some training it also
means you should have some basic avalanche avoidance training. 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:
Jan 14-16
2012 MLK Weekend
Feb 18-20, 2012 Presidents
Weekend
Prerequisites
Participants
need to have or rent alpine touring or telemark skis and skins or a
splitboard with skins. We will be in terrain that requires solid backcountry
ski or riding skills including skinning.
© Chauvin Guides International, P.O. Box 2151, North Conway, NH 03860 Voice: 603-356-8919