Headed out to backcountry ski or snowboard this winter? Make sure you are properly educated about avalanches first – Avalanche Education is a crucial tool for anyone venturing out of bounds in the winter. Basic avalanche education includes:
- Characteristics and types of avalanches
- Movement of avalanches
- Classifications by size and danger scale
- Mountain snowpack: metamorphism and layering
- Trip planning and preparation
- Risk management and decision-making
- Human influence in group dynamics, decision-making and accidents
Travelers in the backcountry should also be proficient at:
- Beacon and probe use
- Identifying and evaluating avalanche terrain
- Route-finding and travel techniques
- Snow pit and snow layer analysis and tests
- Risk evaluation
- Identifying “red flags”
- Avalanche rescue and beacon search techniques
Further information about these topics can be found on the Forest Services National Avalanche Center website. Information is a great start when coupled with formal training, like an AIARE Level 1 course. Apex’s AIARE courses offer the tools you need to increase awareness in the backcountry. Upcoming three day Level 1 courses take place beginning Feb. 22nd and March 8th. For more information and to register, view our Colorado AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Education courses on our website.
Additionally here is a interesting video about avalanches from National Geographic