Snow avalanches are the greatest source of danger for mountain travelers in winter! Only by recognizing risk can you use your knowledge and experience to reduce that risk to an acceptable level.
All of our courses follow the guidelines established by the American Avalanche Association (AAA) and are offered in conjunction with the National Ski Patrol (NSP).All instructors have attended the NationalAvalancheSchool and have experience in avalanche terrain.Information is shared freely among the wide network of instructors in the NSP and AAA, thus providing up-to-date and comprehensive training programs. The Level I Avalanche; this three day course teaches students how terrain, weather, and snowpack contribute to avalanche hazards. The course covers movement through avalanche terrain, route selection/hazard identification, and stability assessments in the field environments.It also focuses on the fundamentals of self, group, and organized rescue.
Introduction to Avalanche Safety and Rescue; this courseoffers information about how terrain, weather, and snowpack contribute to avalanche hazards.The course focuses heavily on the fundamentals of self, group, and organized rescue.Field sessions are limited to those activities fully achievable in the local environment and normally do not include route selection, backcountry travel, and snow stability evaluation.NSP recognizes this as a prerequisite for Mountain Travel and Rescue 2 or Level 1 Avalanche courses. Mountain and Avalanche Awareness; this course is for general information and for novice mountain enthusiasts. Students learn the basics of mountain awareness and the principal contributing factors to avalanches.This course is an approved NSP Senior elective, but it is not a prerequisite for either MTR2 or Level II Avalanche.
2010 Avalanche Courses
The list below is the 2010 schedule and typical of the courses offered each year.
January 16, 2010 Intro to Avalanche Safety and Rescue Keene Valley, NY Register with the Mountaineer (518) 576-2281 January 17, 2010 Intro to Avalanche Safety and Rescue Keene Valley, NY Register with the Mountaineer 518-576-2281 February 5-7, 2010 Level 1 Avalanche Smugglers Notch, VT Cost: $200 non-NSP members $150 NSP members Registration deadline January 29, 2010 February 21, 2010 Intro to Avalanche Safety and Rescue Ski Sundown, New Hartford, CT Cost: $70 non-NSP members $60 NSP members Registration deadline February 15, 2010 March 12-14, 2010 Level 1 Avalanche Pinkham Notch, NH Register with AMC 603-466-2727 March 19-21, 2010 Level 1 Avalanche Whiteface Mountain, NY Cost: $200 non-NSP members $150 NSP members Registration deadline March 12, 2010
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