Workshops
Workshop Series
Spring Snow Evaluation Workshop
Avalanche Observers / Level Three Prep Workshop
Cost of the Course: $165.00 Per Person
Course Duration: 3 hour Evening Class, 1 Full Day in the Field
Tuition Includes: Instruction, and instructional handouts.
Tuition Does Not Include: Round trip transportation to and from the class-site, “Snow Sense” by Fesler & Fredston, food and water for the duration of the course, all personal gear and clothing (see the Equipment List for more information).
Required Reading: “Snow Sense” by Jill Fredston & Doug Fesler
Recommended Reading: “Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrian” by Bruce Tremper
COURSE CURRICULUM:
The focus of this workshop is to review the Avalanche Level 1 Course curriculum. This program is meant for backcountry enthusiasts that have received avalanche safety training and who are not interested in repeating the full level 1 course. Come with a clear picture of what you remember from the level one course you participated in and what you would like to work on or review. Please re-read Snow Sense, by Fredston & Fessler, to get your mind thinking snow again. Also, read any chapters in Bruce Tremper’s book, Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain, that you can. Make a list of any questions you have. Those who really study their pre-course material before the workshop can expect to absorb more during the workshop than those who haven’t. We also recommend that you track the weather in Turnagain Pass as closely as possible in the week prior to the workshop.
Program curriculum consists of:
- Group rescue techniques
- Beacon use
- Beacon Park practice (EasySearcher) for multiple beacon searches
- Terrain analysis
- Snow stability evaluation
- Decision-making
- Route selection
- Safe travel procedures
PRE-REQUISITES:
All participants must have participated in a previous Level 1 avalanche course or equivalent, and must have read “Snow Sense” by Fesler and Fredston.
WORKSHOP LOCATION:
The first day of this program is the lecture and classroom time. This will be held at Alaska Avalanche School, 1025 Orca Street Unit #1N, Anchorage, AK 99501.The second day of the program will be the held in Turnagain Pass area. Location for the field day to be determined at the classroom meeting.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:
Registration check-in will take place on Thursday evening 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The workshop will start PROMPTLY at 6:00 pm. You are welcome to bring your dinner along if you wish. We have a micorwave and oven at the school. We will have about 3 hours of classroom training that evening followed by a full field day on Saturday. Plan to be at the field location at 8:30 am on Saturday.
PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS AND EQUIPMENT:
Plan to bring all the necessary clothing and equipment you require to stay outside all day in foul weather while traveling uphill and down through variable terrain and changing snow conditions. For more information on participant equipment requirements please review the course equipment handout.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Student tuition alone does not cover the total course cost. Funding for these programs is derived from individual donations, in-kind contributions, and program receipts from educational workshops. If you desire to contribute to the school we graciously accept donations of monetary value as well as gear that can be put towards our rental program.
Cost of the Workshop: $110 Per Person
Workshop Duration: 1 Full Day
Tuition Includes: Instruction and handouts
Tuition Does Not Include: Round trip transportation to and from the class-site, food and water for the duration of the workshop, all personal gear and clothing (see the Equipment List for more information).
COURSE CURRICULUM
This workshop is geared towards skiers, boarders, snowmachiners, climbers, and other backcountry enthusiasts and is an intensive, hands-on workshop. The goal of this workshop is to provide students whom have prior knowledge an opportunity to refresh their skills and new students a foundation to safely and effectively locate and rescue backcountry travelers who have been caught in an avalanche. The full range of rescue skills will be practiced. We will start with the nuts and bolts of how to use your beacon on single, and multiple burials. Students will be split into groups, and during the workshop all groups will get an opportunity to practice with the help of their instructor. In addition full rescue scenarios will be performed with an opportunity to practice the leadership, and communication required of a successful avalanche rescue.
Program curriculum consists of:
- Group rescue techniques
- Beacon Use
- Beacon Park practice (EasySearcher) for multiple beacon searches
- Leadership and Communication Skills pertaining to beacon searches and rescue scenarios
- Rescue Scenarios
PRE-REQUISITES:
There are no pre-requisites for students interested in participating in this program.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:
Pre-registration check-in will take place from 9:00 – 9:30 am. The workshop will run from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Bring a lunch, and plan to be outside most of the day. Please be prompt and ready for a full day of avalanche curriculum.
WORKSHOP LOCATION:
Different locations depending on the date scheduled. We do offer this course at Hatcher Pass, Chugach Front Range~Glen Alps, and Turnagain Pass. See current schedule for dates and locations.
PARTICIPANT GEAR REQUIREMENTS:
Plan to bring all the necessary clothing and equipment you require to travel a short distance over snow and stay outside all day in foul weather. A pair of snowshoes, or skis with climbing skins, will be necessary to enable you to get around during the practice secessions. Every participant MUST have a shovel rescue transceiver (beacon), and an avalanche probe.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Student tuition alone does not cover the total workshop cost. Funding for these programs is derived from individual donations, in-kind contributions, and program receipts from educational workshops. If you desire to contribute to the school we graciously accept donations of monetary value as well as gear that can be put towards our rental program.
Printable Information Page – Hatcher Pass
Printable Information Page – Glen Alps
Printable Information Page – Turnagain Arm
Spring Snow Evaluation Workshop
Cost of the Course: $165.00 Per Person
Course Duration: 3 hours in the evening, 1 Full Day in the Field
Required Reading: “Snow Sense” by Jill Fredston & Doug Fesler
Recommended Reading: “Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrian” by Bruce Tremper
Tuition Includes: Instruction, and instructional handouts.
Tuition Does Not Include:
Round trip transportation to and from the class-site, “Snow Sense” by Fesler & Fredston, food and water for the duration of the course, all personal gear and clothing (see the Equipment List for more information).
COURSE CURRICULUM:
The focus of this workshop is to explore the unique properties of wet snow avalanches and the methods to evaluate wet snow hazards. This program is intended for backcountry enthusiasts that have received avalanche safety training and who are interested in furthering their spring-time and summer snow safety skills and knowledge. Read those sections in Bruce Tremper’s book, Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain, that pertain to wet snow instabilities and any other chapters you have time for. Make a list of any questions you have. Those who really study their pre-course material before the workshop can expect to absorb more during the workshop than those who haven’t.
We also recommend that you track the weather in both Hatcher Pass and Turnagain Pass as closely as possible in the week prior to the workshop.
Program curriculum consists of:
- Snow stability evaluation techniques
- Terrain evaluation as it pertains to wet snow hazard
- The use of weather forecast and real-time information in stability assessment
- Review of safe travel procedures
- Review of decision making in avalanche terrain
PRE-REQUISITES:
All participants must have participated in a previous Level 1 avalanche course or equivalent, and must have read “Snow Sense” by Fesler and Fredston.
WORKSHOP LOCATION:
The first day of this program is the lecture and classroom potion. This will be held at Alaska Avalanche School, 1025 Orca Street Unit 1N, Anchorage, AK 99501.The second day of the program will be held in either Turnagain Pass, or Hatcher Pass, depending on snow. We will decide during the classroom session where to meet on the field day.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:
Registration check-in will take place on Thursday, from 5:30-6:00 pm. The workshop will start PROMPTLY at 6:00 pm. You are welcome to bring your dinner along if you wish. We have a microwave and oven at the classroom. We will have about 3 hours of classroom training that evening followed by a full field day on Saturday. Plan to be at the field location at 9:00 am on Saturday.
PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS AND EQUIPMENT:
Plan to bring all the necessary clothing and equipment you require to stay outside all day in foul weather while traveling uphill and down through variable terrain and changing snow conditions. For more information on participant equipment requirements please review the course equipment handout.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Student tuition alone does not cover the total course cost. Funding for these programs is derived from individual donations, in-kind contributions, and program receipts from educational workshops. If you desire to contribute to the school we graciously accept donations of monetary value as well as gear that can be put towards our rental program.
Printable information page
Cost of the Workshop: $110 Per Person
Workshop Duration: 1 Full Day
Tuition Includes: Instruction
Tuition Does Not Include: Round trip transportation to and from the class-site, food and water for the duration of the workshop, all personal gear and clothing (see the Equipment List for more information).
COURSE CURRICULUM:
This workshop is geared towards skiers, boarders, climbers, and other backcountry enthusiasts and is an intensive, outdoors, hands-on workshop. The goal of this workshop is to provide students with an “Avalanche Mentor” who will provide structure to a day in the challenging Alaskan backcountry. Your Mentor will facilitate and help increase your ability to travel safely and effectively in avalanche terrain.
Program curriculum consists of:
- Planning and Preparation
- Rescue Foundations and Fundamentals
- Safe Travel Techniques
- Avalanche Character and Terrain
- Decision Making
PRE-REQUISITES:
There are no pre-requisites for students interested in participating in this program. To maximize your learning experience optional reading: “Snow Sense” by Fredston & Fesler prior to the workshop start date.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:
The workshop will run from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Bring a lunch, and plan to be outside all day. Please be prompt and ready for a full day in the field.
WORKSHOP LOCATION:
Avalanche Mentors Workshops are held in Hatcher Pass, Turnagain Pass, and the Chugach State Park. Turnagain Pass Courses will meet at the Center Ridge Parking lot (across from the motorized lot). Hatcher Pass Workshops will meet at the upper parking lot.
PARTICIPANT GEAR REQUIREMENTS:
Plan to bring all the necessary clothing and equipment you require to travel over snow and stay outside all day in foul weather. A pair of snowshoes, or skis with climbing skins, will be necessary to enable you to get around during the practice secessions. Every participant MUST have a shovel (small, lightweight grain-scoop type), digital rescue transceiver (beacon), and an avalanche probe.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Student tuition alone does not cover the total workshop cost. Funding for these programs is derived from individual donations, in-kind contributions, and program receipts from educational workshops. If you desire to contribute to the school we graciously accept donations of monetary value as well as gear that can be put towards our rental program.
Avalanche Observers / Level Three Prep Workshop (SWAG Module Update)
Cost of the Course: $165.00 Per Person
Course Duration: 1 Evening Class, 1 Day in the Field
Tuition Includes: Instruction, and instructional handouts.
Tuition Does Not Include: Round trip transportation to and from the class-site, required reading, food and water for the duration of the course, all personal gear and clothing (see the Equipment List for more information).
Required Reading: (SWAG) Snow, Weather, and Avalanches: Observation Guidelines for Avalanche Programs in the U.S.
COURSE CURRICULUM:
The focus of this workshop is to introduce and review the documentation and record keeping as per the Snow, Weather, and Avalanches: Observation Guidelines for Avalanche Programs in the United States (SWAG). This program is meant for backcountry users who submit, or would like to submit observations, to their local forecasting center and for folks who are on a professional avalanche track. It is required of the level three if the participant’s level 2 Course was less than 40 hrs or taken more than three years ago.
Program curriculum consists of:
- Standard field weather observations and recording standards
- Standard field stability observations and recording standards
- Standard snow profile procedures and recording standards
- Demonstration and documentation of stability tests and results
- Study plot observations and recording standards
PRE-REQUISITES:
Level 2 Backcountry Avalanche Course
WORKSHOP LOCATION:
The first day of this program is the lecture and classroom potion. This will be held at Alaska Avalanche School, 1025 Orca Street Unit 1N, Anchorage, AK 99501.
The second day of the program will be held in Turnagain Pass (dependent on snow). We will decide during the classroom session where to meet for the field day.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:
Registration check-in will take place on Thursday evening, from 5:45 – 6:00 pm. The workshop will start PROMPTLY at 6:00 pm. You are welcome to bring your dinner along if you wish. We have a microwave and oven at the classroom. We will have about 3 hours of classroom training that evening followed by a full field day on Saturday. Plan to be at the field location at 8:30 am on Saturday.
PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS AND EQUIPMENT:
Plan to bring all the necessary clothing and equipment you require to stay outside all day in foul weather while traveling uphill and down through variable terrain and changing snow conditions. For more information on participant equipment requirements please review the course equipment handout.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Student tuition alone does not cover the total course cost. Funding for these programs is derived from individual donations, in-kind contributions, and program receipts from educational workshops. If you desire to contribute to the school we graciously accept donations of monetary value as well as gear that can be put towards our rental program.
Alaska Avalanche School Incorporated operates under special use permits with the U.S.F.S and Alaska State Parks
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