Avalanche Awareness and Rescue Skills Level 1
Do you ski off piste, away from patrolled slopes? If yes, then you are skiing in avalanche terrain and you are responsible for your own risk management. The backcountry is a complex environment, and the avalanche hazard is constantly changing and difficult to predict. This intensive 1-day avalanche course is designed to give you an introduction on how to use the information available to avoid being exposed in avalanche terrain and to give you the essential companion rescue skills to cope if you are involved in an avalanche.
The day will start indoors at Anything Technical, Kendal with sessions to cover the technical information before moving outdoors to introduce companion rescue in the wild. Whilst it is extremely unlikely that we will have snow on the ground, this dry training proves extremely effective at getting a fundamental understanding of the rescue equipment and protocols involved in a rescue.
What's covered?:
- Introduction to the avalanche problem – know the enemy!
- Overview of European Avalanche Warning Services EAWS and where to source avalanche forecast/bulletins.
- Introduction to using avalanche forecast to identify avalanche terrain.
- Overview of backcountry safety equipment - what should be in your pack.
- Companion rescue – what to do if you are involved in a rescue. Introduction to ALIROSS rescue protocol.
- Who are you going to call?
- Companion rescue skills: Beacon searches – signal, coarse and fine
- Strategic probing and digging to find a casualty
- Casualty management
- Companion rescue
Itinerary:
- 9:00am start with Tea & Coffee
- 9:00am-11:30am Introduction and theory at Anything Technical
- 12:00pm-12:30pm Travel to designated outdoor practical area
- 12:30pm-3:30pm Practical demonstartions and outdoor session
- 3:30pm-4:00pm - Travel back to Anything Technical for the end of the course
Equipment:
Notebook and pen
*Avalanche beacon/transceiver
*Shovel and Probe
Ski rucksack with dedicated rescue pocket.
Outdoor clothing – warm and waterproof including gloves.
Outdoor footwear – the training area is rough, wet and muddy.
Packed lunch and drink.
*These items are available to borrow from ARVA/Anything Technical for the duration of the course. If you already have a transceiver, shovel and probe then please bring them along, it is always advisable to regularly practice with your own equipment
Staff:
Andy Townsend is an IFMGA Mountain Guide and avalanche forecaster with SAIS based in Scotland. Former head of Snowsports at Scotland’s National Mountain training centre, Andy is also a mountain safety trainer for BASI and the Backcountry editor for Fall-Line magazine. He also works as a technical trainer for ARVA UK.
Please note:
A minimum of 8 attendees are required for this course to run properly.