Hybrid Avalanche Course Level 1
Location
Salt Lake City, Utah
Group Size
4 people per guide
Duration
2 days
Location
Salt Lake City, Utah
Group Size
4 people per guide
Duration
2 days
Avalanche Level 1 Course by Certified Guides
The mountains are a paradise for many of us. That said, the alpine environment isn’t without hazards. Avalanches, in particular, are a deadly and treacherous force we all must reckon within the mountains. If you spend enough time in the backcountry, you will eventually encounter an avalanche. When that occurs, proper avalanche response training is critical to safety. Don’t Be Unprepared!
Wasatch Mountain Guides is stoked to announce our new Avalanche Level 1 Hybrid Course (AAI Level 1), which we offer in partnership with the American Avalanche Institute. This comprehensive course offers both an online learning module and two 8-hour hands-on field days in the Wasatch Mountains, Utah, led by expert instructors from Wasatch Mountain Guides.
Course Details:
- Self-Paced Online Learning Module via the American Avalanche Institute
- Live Virtual Seminar with Expert WMG Instructors (the evening before your first field day)
- Two In-Depth Field Days in the Backcountry
- Avalanche Level 1 certification upon full completion
- Avalanche beacon, shovel, probe, and backpack (if needed)
How it Works:
Once you have paid and registered, you’ll receive access to an expansive online coursecontaining:
- Instructional videos
- Extensive workbook with note outlines
- In-depth online study guide
- Comprehensive quizzes
This digital course was developed by the American Avalanche Institute and is framed around the Backcountry Avalanche Checklist. This Checklist is a systemic and proven approach to comprehensive decision-making in the complex backcountry environment.
The course material can be completed at your leisure but must be completed before your field days. The WMG team will be available to respond to questions via email at all times. Participants can go back and review course material even after the completion of the course, for the duration of the 2022-23 winter season.
As mentioned, we’ll also sign you up for two field days in the backcountry. We’re offering private group custom dates (we must confirm availability or your selected dates). The evening before your first field day, we’ll meet with you via video conference to answer any questions you have and make sure you’re packed and ready.
The Field Days:
Our field days will be two consecutive 8-hour days based in Big or Little Cottonwood Canyon. We’ll cover an exhaustive set of avalanche preparedness skills, including:
- Tour planning
- Snowpack and weather observations and assessment
- Terrain assessment
- Safe travel
- Field observations
- Stability tests and assessment
- Rescue drills
- Team structure and roles
- Avalanche response and steps
- Beacon search
- Probing techniques
- Strategic shoveling
- Plus more
Dates:
- These are private courses so simply contact us or Book Trip to schedule. We will add you to an open course or create a course based on your availability.
