Avalanche Awareness for Skiers

2008 DATES Click Dates To Book.... Week 7: 10 Feb - 16 Feb Full Skiing Programme Click Here COURSE DURATION 5 days, 6 nights ALL INCLUSIVE PRICE £795 Your course price covers: • Guiding + guides expenses • Full board + accommodation • All picnic lunches/snack food • All course transportation • All mechanical uplift • Loan of technical equipment Click here for Full Details RATIO Introductory

An understanding of avalanches is fundamental to being safe in the mountains, whether you are ski touring, off piste skiing or mountaineering. This course is designed for people with ski ability who would like to gain expertise in avalanche risk assessment, whilst having an enjoyable week of ski touring and off piste skiing in the mountains.

No snow slope is ever given a ZERO hazard evaluation. On the 1-5 scale the majority of the time we are operating 2 or 3 and sometimes at 4 (at 5 lifts & infrastructures are threatened and closed). It is a fact that most accidents involving skiers/boarders occur at level 3 or ‘considerable’ hazard.

To help people to gain a better understanding of avalanche risk and to develp strategies to deal with it, we have designed this practical course for ski tourers, and off-piste skiers and snow boarders. The course aims to:

• increase the understanding of snow conditions and potential dangers
• give a framework for reducing risk and making sound decisions
• know how to effect a rescue in case of accident
• plan & execute appropriate & interesting tours and off-piste ski runs!

The course will have theoretical sessions and these will be put into practice by the preparation and execution of ski tours and off piste runs in the region with mountain guide. The course is normally run by ISM guide Steve Jones who is also instructor for the European Avalanche School. The 5 day course is certificated by EAS at both ‘foundation’ & ‘advanced’ levels.

Outline Syllabus:

Each day will involve a field trip off piste skiing or ski touring. This is the basic aim of the course to be out there doing it in safety!

The course begins with introductions/course aims, a basic quiz and discussion of incidents.

Weather observations will be made & the avalanche bulletin will be studied each day then a plan formulated.

Safety briefing & basic transceiver training will be the first practical priority.

Leysin is now equipped with the state of the art ‘avalanche training centre’ for this purpose.

After skiing there will be a theoretical session and planning for the following day. Theoretical topics (then practical sessions) which come together as the decision making process will be looking at these 3 key issues:

• basic snow science & avalanche characteristics i.e. evaluating stability
• terrain, the importance of using it well i.e. avoiding danger zones
• the human element and risk management i.e .group organization

Considering each of these issues at the planning stage, then on arrival in an area and finally on each slope will promote sound judgment.

Practical rescue scenarios will give participants a good level of competence in case of an avalanche incident, however the first aim of the course is how to avoid the real thing and to enjoy some great ski descents!

During the week an overnight trip to another area will take place (such as the region of Grand St. Bernard) so that differing snow climates will be experienced. The course ends with a questionnaire and debrief .

Ski ability required: Strong parallel turns on piste (confidence on red runs) and ability to make effective turns off-piste. A good level of fitness is required (e.g. ability to comfortably sustain a climb at a rate of 250m per hour). Ski touring skills will be taught as required by the course.

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