Avalanche Training Level I (Mar. 3-5, 2023)
Event description
The Level I curriculum is designed to give participants a thorough, practical introduction to avalanches.
The American Avalanche Association’s Level I curriculum is intended to be a 24 hour course designed to give participants a thorough, practical introduction to avalanches as phenomena, and the skills to recognize the key conditions responsible for their occurrence. Additionally, participants will learn strategies for prudent decision-making and techniques for travel in avalanche terrain that will increase the odds of avoidance and survival. Since avalanches are complex in nature and cannot be definitively predicted, the importance of, and skills enabling efficient avalanche companion rescue will also be emphasized.
Please note that this course may be cancelled due to insufficient snow.
All students must have an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel.
There is an online meeting from 6:30PM to 8:00PM on Friday evening before the weekend field work. Weekend field days run approximately 8:00AM to 5:00PM.
The field portion of the course will be run by KPAC staff in the terrain surrounding Arizona Snowbowl. We will be in a large group at the start and end of the day, but most of the time we will be in small groups of one instructor per four or five students.
The classroom components are online modules developed by The American Avalanche Institute. Students will spend five to eight hours to complete the online course work. KPAC recommends that students complete the online course prior to the weekend field sessions. All online modules must be completed prior to receiving a Level 1 certificate. The online modules have optional "deep dives" for those wanting more information.