This is an AIARE certified level 1 avalanche course consisting of three evening lectures at the Mountaineers clubhouse in Seattle, and a two day field trip based at the Mountaineers Baker Lodge at the Mount Baker ski area. The lectures are from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm on Jan. 28, Jan. 31 and Feb. 4. The field trip will be Feb. 9 and 10, 2013. The course introduces students to the primary factors that cause avalanches such as weather, snowpack, human error and terrain and stresses ways to avoid avalanches, such as reading terrain, trip planning, snowpack evaluation, understanding avalanche forecasts, travel techniques and team decision making. The class is oriented toward demonstrating practical ways to make safe decisions when traveling in avalanche terrain. The planning and decision making tools introduced in this course are just as applicable to managing all sorts of mountaineering hazards as they are to safety in avalanche terrain. Companion rescue methods are also covered in this class. During the two day field trip students will need either backcountry skis / splitboard with skins, or snowshoes. Everyone will also need a metal shovel, full length avalanche probe and an avalanche beacon for the field trip. Bring clothes suitable both for standing around and getting exercise outdoors all day in possibly cold, windy, snowy or even rainy conditions. Students will need to spend Saturday night at the Mountaineers Lodge located at the Mount Baker Ski Area. Students enrolled in the course will automatically be signed up for Saturday night at the lodge. The cost of Saturday night food and lodging is included in the course fee. It is recommended that students sign up to stay at the lodge Friday night as well; The field trip will start promptly on Saturday morning.

This course meets the avalanche requirement for the Intermediate Alpine Climbing or Ski Mountaineering courses. Contact Nick Lyle at avynick@gmail.com with questions.