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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 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.
Contact
Us About
a Course
© Chauvin Guides
International, P.O. Box 2151, North Conway, NH 03860 Voice: 603-356-8919