AVALANCHE COURSES: LEVEL 1
Course Duration
- 2-Field Days (8am-5pm)
- 8-Hours of self-paced online learning
- 2-Hour live zoom meeting with educator prior to field day (6-8pm)
COOKE CITY
COURSES
- Dec 16-17, 2023
- Dec 19-20, 2023
- Dec 29-30, 2023
- Jan 13-14, 2024
BOZEMAN / BIG SKY
COURSES
- Jan 4-5, 2024
- Jan 6-7, 2024
- Jan 11-12, 2024
- Jan 13-14, 2024
- Jan 18-19, 2024
- Jan 20-21, 2024
- Jan 25-26, 2024
- Jan 27-28, 2024
- Feb 1-2, 2024
- Feb 3-4, 2024
Cost
$595/participant
Ratio
Maximum 6 participants to 1 instructor
Don’t see course dates or schedule that works for you?
Visit our calendar for other course dates for you or your group.
I completed your Level 1 Avalanche Course and it was a great; incredibly informative, awesome instructor, and super useful hands-on education. It significantly increased my confidence in my ability to ski safely in the backcountry.
Matthew Thompson
Description
MAG’s Level 1 Avalanche Course follows national guidelines set by the American Avalanche Association (AAA); including our instructors’ credentials, material covered, duration, and classroom/field components. Our Level 1 Course is designed to provide students with the knowledge to confidently pursue backcountry ski terrain. After completion of our L1 Course, you will receive a card from MAG that lists your name, dates of course, & instructors’ names. As a AAA-recognized educator, your completion of our L1 course will be accepted by other avalanche educators if you wish to pursue your avalanche education to the Level 2, Pro 1, or Pro 2 levels. Our Level 1 Avalanche Course is for skiers and snowboarders looking to gain the skills and knowledge for safe backcountry travel.
LOCATIONS
Classroom sessions – Online Learning at your own location & pace with a 1-2 hour Zoom review prior to your field days.
Field Courses – Mountain Ranges near Bozeman & Big Sky. Cooke City Based programs field days will be in and around Cooke City. If possible we select two separate geographic locations to provide students with a much more comprehensive environmental classroom than visiting the same general location each day.
NOTE: The exact locations for field sessions are subject to change.
EXPERIENCE
You do not need to be an advanced skier but you should be familiar with skiing a variety of snow conditions
ITINERARY
- Two Full Field Days (8-5 pm)
- 8 hours of online learning with evening Zoom session prior to field days
Course Content
- Avalanche types and anatomy
- Basic slab mechanics Terrain
Terrain evaluation and route selection • Travel protocols & group communication - Snowpack and Weather
Mountain snowpack development leading to instability or stability • Field observations, tests and judging instability • Use of avalanche & snow pit tools: inclinometer, compass, probe, saw • Introduce elementary pit diagrams with hand hardness profiles, basic grain type symbols and stability tests. Expose to recording field notes. • Avalanche & snow climates - Decision-support Tools
Human factors and the need for systematic decision tools • Application & limitations of decision tools • Avalanche bulletins - Rescue
Companion rescue including scene size up, organization, beacon use, probing, shoveling • Recovery of victims not wearing beacons • Common mistakes in avalanche rescue • Single and multiple beacon search techniques • Role of first aid and emergency response in real avalanche rescues
Course Content follows guidelines established by American Avalanche Association
Gear
Please see our Avalanche Course Equipment List for the required equipment for this tour. If you do not have your own alpine touring skis or splitboard, our equipment list contains information on local rental options!
*Rental gear should be picked up the night prior to your outing, to ensure it is ready for your trip.
Recommended Reading
- Snow Sense, Jill Fredston & Doug Fesler
- Start with this book (130 pages)
- Once you have read “Snow Sense”, consider, Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain, Bruce Tremper
- This book has it all and goes beyond our Level 1 Course. It remains a staple text for snow safety.