Certified Avalanche Courses Level
I & Level II
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Winter 2011
Taught by Timothy Keating AAA Certified Avalanche Instructor

Become a member of the American Avalanche Association
Call us at 1-888-797-6867 questions or for Registration and Lodging options.
- Designed for all levels of winter enthusiasts—skiers, snowshoers, snowboarders, and winter climbers.
- Conducted with indoor lectures, slide and video presentations, plus field demonstrations and practice.
- Meets criteria for level I and level II avalanche courses based on the American Avalanche Association course outlines
- Conducted in Mt. Shasta, CA.
- Includes Avalanche textbook & Course workbook

FREE AVALANCHE AWARENESS SEMINARS FOR WINTER 2010-2011
OFFER BY THE MT. SHASTA AVALANCHE CENTER
Avalanche Awareness Presentations: Friday's at the Mt. Shasta Library:
Check Back for 2010-2011 Dates
Avalanche Awareness Transceiver Clinics: meeting at the Fifth Season in Mt. Shasta at 9am:
Check Back for 2010-2011 Dates
Avalanche Level I - Refresher
Avalanche Skills Advancement Workshop
Taught by AAA Avalanche Professional Member
A level I Refresher course for Backcountry travelers and Aspiring guides and professional's who have rusty or outdated avalanche course. Individuals who have taken a Level I course 5 years or more ago and need a refresher course for acceptance into Avalanche Level II. The course is designed for all types of backcountry travelers, snowshoers, backcountry skiers, snowboarders, mountaineers, ski patrol, and mountain guides.
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Dates 2010-2011:
December: 18-19, 2010
January: 8-9
February: 5-6
Duration: 1 evening & 1 day
(3 hrs class / 8 hrs field)
Limited to: 10 participants
Cost: $125.00
Group Dates maybe Available:
Group Rate*: $1,000.00 for up to 12 people
*your dates, Mt. Shasta or your venue
Departure City: Mt. Shasta, CA
Directions to Meeting Location
Recommended Prerequistes but no required: Winter Travel & First Aid Skill, Avalanche Awareness course or Introduction to Avalanche Course
Courses start at 6 pm on the first day with the next day ending at 5:00 pm on the last day
- Recent Changes in Avalanche I
- Metamorphism & Snow process review
- Basic Pit Diagram Review
- Field Book Data recording review
- Trip Planning & Terrain Analysis
- Quick Rescue Scenario Practice
- Summary of stability findings
- Use & Application of Student's own avalanche and snow study tools
Avalanche Level I
Avalanche Fundamentals
Taught by AAA Certified Avalanche Instructor Tim Keating
This basic avalanche hazards course contains over 25 plus hours of instruction in both lecture, video, discussion, and at least 16 plus hrs of field work. The course is designed for all types of backcountry travelers, snowshoers, backcountry skiers, snowboarders, mountaineers, ski patrol, and mountain guides.
We use a variety of evaluation systems to start to learn how to evaluate avalanche hazards and to develop "your avalanche judgment." The basics of snow mechanics, avalanche hazards, and metamorphosis of slab formation are taught through lectures, slides shows, and hands-on field study, giving the student a basic foundation and understanding of the nature of avalanches and their hazards.
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| The right Tools, shovel, beacon, and probe | Snowpit Study Mt. Shasta, CA. |
- Terrain
- Terrain Evaluation & Route Selection
- Travel Protocols & Group Communication
- Snowpack & Weather
- Mountain Snowpack
- Field Observations
- Use of Avalanche Tools & Introduction to pit diagrams
- Decision Making Tools
- Human Factors
- Avalanche Bulletins & Application
- Rescue
- Companion Rescue
- Recovery of victums without beacons
- Single and Multiple Beacon search Techniques
- Role of First Aid and Emergency Response
Dates 2011:
January: 15-17
February: 19-21
March: 18-21
Duration: 3 days (24 hr / 60% field)
Limited to: 10 participants
Cost: $375.00
Group Dates maybe Available:
Group Rate*: $3,250 for up to 14 people
*your dates, Mt. Shasta or your venue
Departure City: Mt. Shasta, CA
Directions to Meeting Location
Recommended Prerequistes but no required: Winter Travel & First Aid Skill, Avalanche Awareness course or Introduction to Avalanche Course
Courses start at 8:00 am on the first day through 5:00 pm on the last day.
This course fulfills the "Level I" requirements for the National Park Service, Forest Service, and Guide Associations.
Course curriculum is based on the American Avalanche Association Level I course guidelines. www.americanavalancheassociation.org
For lodging options or contact our office at 1-888-797-6867.
Course information Avalanche Level I (pdf)
Avalanche Course Equipment (pdf)
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Avalanche Processes & Leadership
Taught by AAA Certified Avalanche Instructor Tim Keating
This advanced avalanche course consists of 35 plus hours of instruction in both lecture, video, discussion, and field study (at least 20 plus hrs) in the Shasta backcountry. A level II course for snowshoers, backcountry skiers, snow boarders, mountaineers, snow rangers, ski patrol, professional mountain guides needing advanced field study. A review of snow mechanics along with avalanche hazards evaluation will be taught through lectures and hands-Also included is advanced avalanche beacon practice, rescue techniques, route finding and decision making.
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| Mulit-Burial Beacon Training, Mt. Shasta, CA |
- Tour Planning
- Weather and Snowpack History
- Trip Considerations
- Decision Tool Review
- Applied Map Skills
- Processes
- Snow Metamorphism
- Assessing Intability
- Spatial Variability
- Field Tours & Rescue
- Route Selection & Travel Protocols
- Full Snow Test Profile Practice
- SWAG Standards and Recording methods
- Group and Complex Rescue Lleadership
- Rescue Practice Scenarios
- Integration of Human Factors
- Instructor modeling in Avalanche Terrain
Dates 2010-2011:
December: 9-12
February: 12-15
March: TBA - Give us a call
Duration: 4 days (32 hours/ 60% field)
Limited to: 10 participants
Cost: $450.00
Group Dates maybe Available:
Group Rate*: $4,000 for up to 12 people
*your dates, Mt. Shasta or your venue
Departure City: Mt. Shasta, CA
Directions to Meeting Location
Prerequistes: Level I course or Level I refresher within the last 5 years
Courses start at 8:00 am on the first day through 5:00 pm on the last day.
This course fulfills the "Level II" requirements for the National Park Service, Forest Service, and Guide Associations.
Course curriculum is based on the American Avalanche
Association Level II course guidelines. www.americanavalancheassociation.org
For lodging options or contact our office at 1-888-797-6867.
Course
information Avalanche Level II (pdf)
Avalanche Course Equipment (pdf)
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Professional Mountain Guiding Since 1981
E-mail us worldwide at: mail@swsmtns.com
Toll Free within the United States and Canada: 1-888-797-6867
International phone: 001-530-926-6003 / International fax: 001-530-926-6003








