Course Content
We take avalanche safety education seriously Bruce and Mikeare passionate about skiing and sharing there knowledge. They take pride in delivering informative, hands-on avalanche courses. Better avalanche savvy equals better days in the mountains, and the aim of the course is to have fun while we learn! So join us this winter and get your avalanche geek on.
We set the standard for avalanche education in the UK: As ski/mountain guides and avalanche instructors, Bruce and Mike have spent decades in the backcountry from Antarctica to Alaska, building up the knowledge and experience and skills that are necessary to provide top quality avalanche courses. All our avalanche courses are a mix of classroom and field work utilizing up-to-date understanding and techniques, all delivered in the big mountain setting of the Chamonix valley.
We meet the guidelines and standards established by the American Avalanche Association who’s syllabus this course follows. Completion of the course will entitle students to progress to Level 2 courses within the AAA family of providers. The qualification is internationally recognized.
Detailed Content
Topics covered on this course:
By the end of the course we hope you will have a basic understanding of:
- Understanding an avalanche forecast and apply it to the area you want to ski in.
- Select a safe route through the mountains minimising exposure to avalanche risk.
- Recognise instabilities in the snow pack using observations and some simple tests.
- Apply simple decission making tools in avalanche terrain.
- Companion rescue - you will be able to organise a fast efficient rescue of a buried person.
Course timetable
Friday 3rd February 1830
We will meet in our classroom in Insted Language School close to the center of Chamonix. Directions can be found here.
On Friday evening we will have a 3hr introductory session. This is an intro to the course content but is also an integral part of the course and is therefore essential to your understanding of what will be covered over the rest of the weekend..
Saturday 4th February 0800
We will have a morning classroom session followed by a session on the hill. Please bring all your ski kit to the class including a drink and a packed lunch. We will reconvene in the classroom after the ski slopes close for the day.
Sunday 5th February 0800
We will meet in the morning in the classroom, then head out onto the hill. Bring lunch as per Saturday. At the end of the day there will be a short classroom session to finish the course. If folk need to leave early to catch flights please speak to us beforehand so we can make sure all the course content has been covered.