Avalanche Course: Field day 2

Today was field day 2 of the Avalanche field course! We went to Red Mountain Pass approximately at 11k and skinned up to Red Mountain 3 at 12k. We learned macro and micro route selection while considering what we learned from the past two days.


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Here are some of the pictures.


I am modeling my new backpack! Black Diamond Anarchist I absolutely love it! Notice how the picture is washed out by the snow. The day was cloudy, so no blue skies, but the day was still beautiful.



Tyler, near the top(12k) of Red Mountain 3. Notice the lack of blue sky and the wind blowing at his feet. He used his snowshoes while carrying his snowboard. This was his 3rd day ever snowboarding and in avalanche ridden backcountry; wait, someone is knocking on the door right now, oh, it is just a representative from the child-protective services.

However, the gang was impressed with his athleticism! (I was very impressed, and watching Tyler snowboard almost brought a proud tear to my eye.)

The gang up on the top.

Summary: the course was worth every penny. Invaluable course, I was thoroughly impressed with the instructors and their presentation of avalanche information. I would highly recommend anyone considering stepping their pinky-toe in the backcountry to attend this course.

Avalanche Course: Field day 1

Tyler, Jim, Dan O (co-worker) and I registered for an Avalanche course through the company Southwest Adventures.

The purpose of taking the course is to become familiar and risk-assess the variety of dangers while snowshoeing and skiing in the back country. I feel exposing Tyler to these courses at his age is exciting! I hope I am not living vicariously through him; however, he is excited about learning more avalanche details and states he wants a splitboard!

The course is three days long and utilizes the curriculum from the AIARE organization. The first day of didactic instruction consists of: avalanche anatomy, causes, effects, rescues, and risk-assessment. The second day was held at Molas Pass learning how to conduct rescues using tools such as beacons, probes and shovels. The last day will focus on route selection in the back country toward potential ski areas.

Josh, one of two outstanding instructors! (Don't tempt him with beef jerky, he will immediately morph into Sasquatch)



The class heading out. Engineer Mountain in the background. A beautiful day!


Above, Tyler and Jim simulate a search for me buried in the snow. I buried my backpack with my transmitting beacon. They are using their beacons as receivers to find the location.



Tyler narrows the search while Jim uses the beacon to possibly hit the "body". Aaron, on the far right, is another of our outstanding instructors.


After beacon finding we learned about digging snow-pits. These pits provide indictators regarding the various snow layers. The characteristics of these layers are merely one factor in assessing avalanche danger. Pits are 2 meters in length by 1.5 meters wide and the depth can be to the ground; we dug approximately 1.75 meters deep.


Jim and Tyler now identify and examine the layers!



A snap show of the various classmates digging their pits!


Thus far, the class has been priceless! I thoroughly enjoy the education and look forward to taking the Avalanche 2 course! Tomorrow I will post day 3 of the course! Click here to view more pictures from the course located to My Picasa site

Avalanche Course

I am attending an winter course during the weekend of Feb21. It is a 3 day A.I.A.R.E. Qualified Level 1 Avalanche Course. I am really looking forward to learning the basics of this topic and I do have plans to continue with the Level 2 course next year; apparently, the San Juan Mountains display unpredictable avalanche occurances. That being said, the San Juans are a center of attention regarding study by avalanche experts.

Learning about avalanches includes identification, avoidance, and rescue. All of which results in relative safety while exploring the backcountry! I feel this education will enable safer further exploration with friends and family deeper into the backcountry while skiing, snowshoeing etc! This class is the tip of the iceberg regarding future opportunities for whatever the future may hold!

And, I am told by a reliable source, the ability to Zen-out when exploring the backcountry is spectacular!


Here is a link to the company and course I am taking. South West Adventures . Here is a common website used as another indicator before travelling in the backcountry. Avalanche Site click on the regions to read reports of that area.