MountainSavvy
Course Details - US Level I - Mt Hood/Sandy

PREREQUISITES AND EQUIPMENT

There are no prerequisites for the Level I Avalanche course. Some background reading and any previous awareness courses may help you prepare for a Level I Avalanche course, but they are not necessary. A general level of fitness and equipment appropriate for winter travel in mountainous terrain are necessary.

All avalanche equipment (transceiver, shovel, probe and study equipment) will be supplied to you, but you may choose to bring and use your own equipment in order to become more familiar and practiced with it.

SCHEDULE AND LOCATION

Day 1 of the course is held in downtown Sandy at the Clackamas County Bank Auditorium/Boardroom from 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM. Day 2 is held on Mt Hood just outside the Timberline Ski Area from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM. Weekend courses are held Saturday-Sunday.

COURSE OUTLINE

        Classroom Session

                Introduction: staff, students, objectives, waivers, course content, course manual
                Avalanche Characteristics
                Avalanche Terrain
                -- break --
                Snow Stability Factors
                Mountain Snowpack & Weather
                -- lunch --
                Avalanche Transceivers - theory & video
                Avalanche Transceivers - outdoor demo & practice
                Winter Backcountry Travel
                Assessing Avalanche Danger
                -- break --
                Decision Making
                The Human Factor
                -- break --
                Real-life scenarios - group exercise
                Safety Measures and Companion Rescue
                Tomorrow's Field Trip Plan - with a look at weather & avalanche conditions

         Field Session

                Equipment Check
                Review weather, public danger bulletin
                Full function transceiver test
                Transceiver practice
                Small party self-rescue
                -- lunch --
                Stability Evaluation - Snowpits and snowpack tests
                Hasty tests
                Site selection
                Layer identification
                Snowpack and slope tests - Compression, Burp, Shovel Shear, Rutschblock, etc.
                Test limitations
                Terrain Recognition
                Route finding, Safe travel techniques, Hazard recognition and Group management
                Group rescue scenarios
                Return to trailhead
                Course conclusion and critique

Cancellation and Reschedule Policy

In the event you need to cancel or reschedule your registration, the following policy will be in effect. A full refund or credit (your choice) will be provided when cancellation or reschedule notice is given by participant more than 30 days prior to their session start date. If notice is given less than 30 days prior to their session start date, the participant will receive no refund unless we are able to fill the slot you have reserved. We will do all we can to fill a vacancy left open by a cancellation or a reschedule and most often we are able to do so due to high demand. Cancellations made within 30 days of the session, that are successfully filled will be refunded at 90%. MountainSavvy suggests that participants purchase travel insurance to cover any loss that may result from circumstances that may prevent them from attending their session. In the unlikely event MountainSavvy needs to cancel a course for any reason, particpants will be provided a full refund.

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