Phase II
Phase II Sessions
Dates & Locations
Fee: $350
- Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, WY - January 15-18 2008
- Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, CA - January 22-25 2008
- Telluride Ski and Golf Resort, CO - February 5-8 2008
- Crystal Mountain, WA - February 12-15 2008
Field sessions are an important complement to your classroom learning. Phase II gives you a special opportunity to practice and implement your classroom skills. It is taught by some of the most experienced avalanche practitioners in the field, including ski patrollers, backcountry avalanche forecasters and mountaineers.
You will receive training in:
- Transceiver practice and drills
- Rescue practice and drills
- Avalanche terrain recognition
- Stability tests, including Rutschblocks, compression tests and ski cuts
- Using simple anchors and belays
- Decision-making based on gathered data
- Leading a tour party in avalanche terrain
- Digging a detailed data pit
- Recognizing signs of stability and instability
Expect to learn:
- How to make good decisions
- Recognize and travel safely in avalanche terrain
- Recognize signs of instability
- Conduct a variety of snow stability tests
- Carry out a fast and efficient avalanche rescue
Phase II Overview:
Combined Developed Ski Area Backcountry Training
The developed ski area section will focus on learning avalanche control and forecasting skills necessary to mitigate typical avalanche hazards in designated class A avalanche areas. The section will cover stability evaluation, decision making, explosives use, safe and effective control routes, ski cutting, communication, record keeping, weather analysis, rescue and other germane topics.
The backcountry section will focus on safe backcountry travel. The sections will cover stability evaluation techniques in the context of a backcountry tour. This will include the Rutschblock, Tap, and other shear tests, ski cutting, terrain analysis, route finding, decision-making, anchors, survival, and rescue. Participants must have successfully completed Phase I and
be able to travel efficiently on skis and/or snowboard. If there is sufficient interest, a snowmobile-oriented session will be offered.