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Arguably the greatest objective mountaineering hazard during the winter months, avalanches are most often triggered by the victims themselves. If you go out in the backcountry, learning about avalanches is essential to survival. Exum guides are among the world's most experienced in the snow. We offer American Avalanche Association level I, II, and III courses and custom courses.
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Level I Courses...
Level II Courses...
Level III Courses...
Equipment...
Level I Avalanche Courses: Study how factors such as weather, snowpack, and terrain contribute to avalanche hazard. Students will dig snow pits, identify snow layers, and practice route finding and avalanche rescue. Up to eight students per instructor.
Thursday
and Friday evening classroom sessions provide an introduction to the interactions
of weather, snowpack, and terrain in producing avalanche hazard. Saturday
begins with a short classroom session, followed by the remainder of the day
in a field session practicing rescue techniques and learning to evaluate terrain
and snowpack. Sunday begins with a field session emphasizing snowpack evaluation
and additional terrain considerations. We will learn and practice a variety
of stability tests that can be done in the backcountry. The class finishes
indoors with a review and final classroom session.
Course: Level I Course
Date: November 30 - December 2, 2007
Tuition: $190
Location: Salt Lake City/Alta, UT
Register With: REI, 3285 E. 3300 S. Salt Lake City, UT 84109, (801)486-2100
Course: Level I Course
Date: December 4 - 7, 2007
Tuition: $190
Location: Jackson, WY
Register With: Teton Mountaineering, PO Box 1533, 170 North Cache St., Jackson, WY 83001, (307)733-3595
Course: Level I Course
Date: December 7 - 9, 2007
Tuition: $190
Location: Salt Lake City/Alta, UT
Register With: REI, 3285 E. 3300 S. Salt Lake City, UT 84109, (801)486-2100
Course: Level I Course
Date: December 13 - 16, 2007
Tuition: $190
Location: Jackson, WY
Register With: Exum Mountain Guides
Course: Level I Course
Date: December 14 - 16, 2007
Tuition: $190
Location: Salt Lake City/Alta, UT
Register With: REI, 3285 E. 3300 S. Salt Lake City, UT 84109, (801)486-2100
Course: Level I Course
Date: December 20 - 23, 2007
Tuition: $190
Location: Jackson, WY
Register With: Teton Mountaineering, PO Box 1533, 170 North Cache St., Jackson, WY 83001, (307)733-3595
Course: Level I Course
Date: January 4 - 6, 2008
Tuition: $190
Location: The Canyons, UT
Register With: Mike Ruth, 2208 Sunset Ct., Park City, UT 84060 (435)649-4527, mymruth@qwest.net
Course: Level I Course
Date: January 10 - 13, 2008
Tuition: $190
Location: Salt Lake City/Alta, UT
Register With: Wasatch Touring, 702 E. 1st S., Salt Lake City, UT 84102, (801)359-9361
Course: Level I Course
Date: January 10 - 13, 2008
Tuition: $190
Location: Jackson, WY
Register With: Teton Mountaineering, PO Box 1533, 170 North Cache St., Jackson, WY 83001, (307)733-3595
Course: Level I Course
Date: January 17 - 20, 2008
Tuition: $190
Location: Jackson, WY
Register With: Exum Mountain Guides
Course: Level I Course
Date: February 7 - 10, 2008
Tuition: $190
Location: Bozeman/Bridger Bowl, MT
Register With: American Avalanche Institute, PO Box 308, Wilson, WY 83014, (307)733-3315, aai@wyoming.com
Course: Level I Course
Date: February 14 - 17, 2008
Tuition: $190
Location: Jackson, WY
Register With: Teton Mountaineering, PO Box 1533, 170 North Cache St., Jackson, WY 83001, (307)733-3595
Course: Level I Course
Date: March 13 - 16, 2008
Tuition: $190
Location: Jackson, WY
Register With: Teton Mountaineering, PO Box 1533, 170 North Cache St., Jackson, WY 83001, (307)733-3595
Level II Avalanche Course: Students will formulate hazard
forecasts based on snow pit data such as snow strength, grain type and size,
and temperature. Students will also learn more about the various types of
stability tests. An emphasis on the drawing and interpretation of formal pit
profiles gives students an introduction to professional forecasting. Up to
six students per instructor. This weekend begins with a classroom session
Friday morning at 7:45am; Saturday and Sunday are divided between the classroom and
the field.
$290
Friday
and Saturday classroom sessions begin with a review of level
I topics and move on to an advanced overview of snow metamorphism, the mechanical
behavior of the snowpack, and standard snowpit profiling formats. Saturday
and Sunday field sessions concentrate on analysis and documentation of snowpack
characteristics on different aspects, and crown profiling in the case of recent
avalanche activity. Sunday afternoon we return to the classroom to discuss
hazard analysis and finish with a forecasting exercise.
Course: Level II Course
Date: December 10 - 11, 2007
Tuition: $225
Location: Alta, UT
Register With: American Avalanche Institute, PO Box 308, Wilson, WY 83014, (307)733-3315, aai@wyoming.com
Course: Level II Course
Date: January 4 - 6, 2008
Tuition: $320
Location: Jackson, WY
Register With: American Avalanche Institute, PO Box 308, Wilson, WY 83014, (307)733-3315, aai@wyoming.com
Course: Level II Course
Date: February 1 - 3, 2008
Tuition: $295
Location: Jackson, WY
Register With: Exum Mountain Guides
Course: Level II Course
Date: February 11 - 13, 2008
Tuition: $320
Location: Bozeman/Bridger Bowl, MT
Register With: American Avalanche Institute, PO Box 308, Wilson, WY 83014, (307)733-3315, aai@wyoming.com
Course: Level II Course
Date: March 8 - 9, 2008
Tuition: $225
Location: The Canyons, UT
Register With: American Avalanche Institute, PO Box 308, Wilson, WY 83014, (307)733-3315, aai@wyoming.com
Course: Level III Backcountry Skiers Course
Date: February 22 -24, 2008
Tuition: $340
Location: Jackson, WY
Register With: American Avalanche Institute, PO Box 308, Wilson, WY 83014, (307)733-3315, aai@wyoming.com
Private Courses: Get some friends or come by yourself. Our guides will personalize your avalanche course. 1p-$250/day, $50/day each additional.
We try to keep the courses to a maximum of six students per instructor, but in particularly popular courses, there may be eight students per instructor. Payment in full is expected at the time of registration. If you need to cancel, you will receive a full refund if you provide more than 5 days notice.
Equipment:
For the classroom: notebook, pen and pencil
For field sessions: Sessions last 5 to 6 hours, so dress accordingly. We recommend the following: winter hat, mittens with overmits, thin gloves, neck gaiter, goggles, sunglasses, sun hat, sunscreen, non-cotton layers, two jackets, rain/wind shell, rain/wind pants, non-cotton socks, gaiters, ski/snowboard/snowshoe boots, probe poles (optional), climbing skins, snow shovel, avalanche beacon (check batteries), and any other avalanche equipment that you would like to familiarize yourself with. Exact clothing you bring depends upon the season, but be prepared with extra clothing for snow pit studies. For Level I and II courses, bring backcountry skis with heel lift, or a snowboard with snowshoes, or snowshoes only. For Level III courses, please call to ask about the use of snowboards.
