Avalanche Level 1 Courses for the 2010/11 Winter Season
Montana Backcountry Adventures has teamed up with Angela Patnode of The Friends of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center to offer two Level 1 Avalanche Courses during the upcoming winter season:
- Session 1; December, 17-19, 2010
- Session 2; January 15 - January 17, 2011
Based in the incredible Bell Lake Basin, this course covers terrain, weather, snowpack, and human factors, all of which contribute to the avalanche hazard. During the field sessions you will identify avalanche terrain, practice route finding and safe travel. You will dig snow pits, identify weak layers and make stability evaluations of the slopes you want to ski. There will also be extensive practice with avalanche transceivers as well as avalanche rescue scenarios.
These 3 day, 2 night (24 total course hours) sessions will be a combination of lectures and on-snow, instructional tours in the backcountry immediately surrounding the yurt.Each participant is required to have their own rescue and backcountry gear including all of the following: avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel, proper clothing, skis with skins or a split board with skins. If you are on a snowboard, you will need snowshoes for uphill travel. It is also important to be familiar with and able to use all of your gear. We'll go over a full list of recommended gear after booking.
- Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper
- Snow Sense by Fredston & Fesler
- The Avalanche Handbook by McClung & Schaerer
Cost for the Level 1 Course is $500 per individual, and includes course instruction and materials, lodging at the Bell Lake Yurt and all meals each day.
Call us at (406) 995-3880 or email blyurt@skimba.com
***A 50% deposit at time of booking and a signed registration release of liability form are required to reserve your spot in the course. Unfortunately, MBA cannot offer refunds for last minute trip cancellations, weather or snow conditions.
