Level 1 - Avalanche Hazard Evaluation Class. This course will instruct students in the proper techniques used to identify avalanche terrain, identify basic snow grain types, identify weak layers and strong layers, perform field tests to determine snow pack stability/instability, recognize weather and terrain factors contributing to instability, perform rescue through fast and efficient transceiver use, and apply safe-travel techniques. This course conforms to the Level 1 standards published by the American Avalanche Association.
Who should attend? This course is open to members and non-members and is targeted at winter backcountry recreation. It is imperative that skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, climbers, and other users of the winter backcountry have basic avalanche awareness skills. This course will provide the basic foundation for these critical skills. Club guidelines now require that climb, ski and winter travel leaders be certified to Level 1 standards.
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course; however, students should familiarize themselves with winter backcountry travel. Students will also be required to either snowshoe or ski to the field trip location, which is usually held at Paradise or on national forest land near Crystal Mountain.
Course Schedule: The course will consist of three lecture nights from 6-9 p.m. at the Tacoma Clubhouse and two field trips.
