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CANADIAN AVALANCHE ASSOCIATION AVALANCHE SKILLS TRAINING LEVEL 1 AND 2

Avalanche Skills Training courses offered for the winter 2007/08 including the new "AVALUATOR" Decision Making Tool. Courses will be based at Red Mountain Resort ski hill. All courses include CAA student manual and certificates.
ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ASKED TO SIGN A WAIVER.

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Canadian Avalanche Association – Avalanche Skills Training – Level 1 & 2
Includes CAA Student manual, Avaluator Booklet , Card and Certificate

Avalanche Courses
Gain valuable avalanche training and certification through Avalanche Courses held at Red Mountain Resort. We offer Avalanche Skills Training Level 1 and Level 2. For bookings and information contact Snowsports School in the TMP.

Avalanche Skills Training Level 1
- 3 day avalanche awareness course for safe backcountry travel
o 2 evening lectures and 2 full field days
o Intermediate tree skiing ability required, good physical condition
- Course focuses on avalanche terrain, transceiver use, self rescue techniques, group management, route finding, snowpit analysis and stability tests, hazard recognition and management, navigation, map and compass, winter survival and full rescue scenario.
- $169.00 Includes CAA AST 1 Student Manual, CAA Avaluator Booklet and card, CAA AST Level 1 Certificate (upon completion)
- Price does not include lift ticket or backcountry travel equipment
- Minimum 5 participants, Maximum 12
- (This course is a pre-requisite for Avalanche Skills Training Level 2 and the CAA Technician Level 1)
- Dates:
December 7-9, 2007
December 28-30. 2007
February 22-24, 2008
February 29-March 2, 2008

Avalanche Skills Training Level 2
- 4 day advanced avalanche safety training for serious backcountry enthusiasts
o 3 evening lectures, 4 rigorous field days and 1 overnight in a snow cave
o Advanced tree skiing ability and very good physical condition required
- Course focuses on in depth theories on mountain process, snow science, meteorology, human and social behaviour, avalanche terrain analysis and management strategies, avalanche rescue and survival technology, winter mountain skills and overnight shelter, advanced navigation and full rescue scenario.
- $539.00 Includes CAA AST 2 Student Manual, CAA Avaluator Booklet and card, CAA AST Level 2 Certificate (upon completion), 1 night in snow cave, 3 meals and all winter camping equipment
- Price does not include lift tickets or backcountry travel equipment
- Minimum 5 participants, Maximum 12
- Date: January 8-12, 2008

Avalanche Course bookings

- Avalanche course are run through RMA (Rossland Mountain Adventures) and taught by Harry Allard

- RMA Payment: full payment required at booking for Avalanche courses

- RMA Cancellation Policy: full refunded if cancel more than 4 weeks in advance, 50% refund if cancel within 4 weeks of start date

- RMA Age restrictions: students under 18 years of age must attend program with
parent or guardian or have special permission written and signed on company
waiver.

- Backcountry travel equipment required: transceiver, shovel , probe, skis with touring bindings and skins, snowshoes/snowboard with telescopic ski poles, split board with skins, backpack ( 30-40 L for AST 1 and 60 - 70 L for AST 2 ) , warm clothing, headlamp, basic first aid, food and drink. ( no boot packers allowed) optional : first aid kit, snow study kit, repair kit, survival kit
All students must arrive with fitted gear and prepared.

- Bookings are made at the Mountain Projects Building
o TMP Building
tmp@redresort.com
(250) 362-7384, Ext 235

You will need a shovel, probe, transceiver, lunch, water, warm clothes and a learning attitude ! Call us for more details 250-368-7375 !



We have been instructing and improving these courses since 1999
you won't get a better course ( 22 hours - 8 hours more than minimum CAA requirements and taught by professional guides) .

Our instructors are not only Avalanche Instructors but professional guides with practical field experience and have been developing this program since 1999.
This is a 22 hour 2 day and 2 evening course is one of the most extensive programs in the area, includes a full rescue scenario and is filled with information to help you travel safely in the backcountry.
If you are planning to partake in backcountry travel you should have this course before heading out for both the safety of yourself and those traveling with you.
The content of this course follows the Canadian Avalanche Association certification guidelines. If you want a course that packs in the information, provides practical experience in an safe and fun group environment and situated in the local mountains this is the course for you.

You will gain hands on experience in several snow analysis techniques, have a chance to lead a group as you select appropriate paths with the instructors and participate in both the training and scenario practice of using your avalanche equipment properly. All field work will be completed in the local area within minutes of the ski boundaries of the local ski hill Red Mountain which provides the benefits of a lift up yet allows for amazing opportunities for backcountry experience for training,skiing/boarding, touring and enjoyment.
We will spend 14 hours doing practical training in the beautiful local terrain and 6 hours of indoor theory. Our instructors ensure that everyone has a chance to participate and that the practical work is delivered in a manner that includes everyone and balances learning, practical application with an enjoyable outing. A certificate will be issued upon completion.

Content includes search techniques (including use of transceiver/receivers and probe searches), avalanche terrain recognition, snow stability analysis, backcountry travel techniques, emergency response skills and group management (for safe backcountry travel and emergency scenarios). Please see: gear list for equipment requirements

Gear Required:
Transceivers, probe, shovel , pack
Snowshoes ( for boarders)
Backcountry Bindings and Skins, warm clothing, lunch and water

We do not provide transportation, meals,rental or accommodation unless stated.

- Recreational Avalanche Course—

First evening lecture 6:00-9:00 pm
Field Days - 8:30 a.m.- 3:30 pm

Waiver
Course outline
Goals and objectives
Required equipment for trip and preparation

Meeting for field day

Curriculum

Overheads
Formation
Nature of avalanche
Avalanche terrain
Factor affecting stability
Mountain snowpack
Danger assessment and decision making

Slide show and day trip gear-demo

Field Day

Sat morning
Meeting at 8:30 at ticket office at Red Resort Rossland
Pre trip meeting
Considering present field observations and overnight conditions
Discuss local resource information (ski patrol CAA avalanche and weather forecast)
Avalanche forecast and stability rating

9 am regroup at top of mother load lift and discuss field observations
regroup at toboggan cache top of long squaw ski run
ski down to open meadow at base of white wolf ridge

field objectives
transceiver use, snow study and stability evaluation:
1. Transceiver demo and practice in 2 groups
2. Small avalanche scenario in 2 groups
3. Lunch break
4. Skin up slope for appropriate and safe snow pit location for avalanche testing
5. Considering field observations
6. Terrain and hazard recognition
7. Safe travel

Dig two study walls
Study snow profiles, crystals and discuss metamorphism and causes of avalanche
Stability tests and Rushtblock test

3:00 P.M. Ski out to Rino's and Base
Safe skiing techniques : hazard avoidance, buddy system, and communication, Regroup on Long Squaw

Second evening lecture 6:00-9:00 pm

Field day debrief
Compare and discuss stability test results

Curriculum

Overheads
Safety measures and self rescue
Mountain Wx
Field Observations
Organized search and rescue

Trip Planning exercise and group discussion
2nd field day briefing and planning

Second Field Day

8:30 am meeting @ ticket office at Red Resort Rossland.
Pretrip meeting : avalanche forecast and stability rating considering present field observations, overnight conditions and local resource info ( ski patrol , CAA stability and Wx forecast)

9:00 am Regroup at top of Motherlode ski lift
Field obs. En route to toboggan cache at top of Rino's

2 groups skin up White Wolf ridge and regroup at South end of WW ridge.
Field Objectives: Organize time frame so that each student leads group

Terrain and hazard recognition
Route finding
Safe travel
Group management
Regroup & prepare for surprise avalanche scenario 11 am
Avalanche scenario at white wolf record peak col
Debrief scenario and lunch break
In one group skin up to top of record peak
While considering field objectives:
Terrain and hazard recognition
Route finding
Safe travel
Group management
At or near top of record peak groups split up and choose safe location for test profile
Stability test and Rushtblock ski and snowboard dimensions
Decision making and group skiing technique
Ski back down to col and regroup
Skin up to top of white wolf ridge and regroup
Using buddy system hazard avoidance and communication
Ski out to resort boundary regroup on Paradise area run for 3 pm
Course evaluation debrief student evaluation and certificates

A course for anyone looking for avlanche awareness training, backcountry education, avalanche response course, who is in the Rossland BC area and /or is visiting Red Resorts and going into the backcountry. We offer customized avalanche courses for snowmobilers, youth and private groups as well !

stats below provided by Canadian Avalanche Association http://www.avalanche.ca/accident/index.html
please refer to this site for bulletins as well