av·a·lanche     P   Pronunciation Key  (v-lnch)n.

1. A fall or slide of a large mass, as of snow or rock, down a mountainside.
2. A massive or overwhelming amount; a flood: received an avalanche of mail.

Avalanche awareness Course
Interested in learning about Avalanche Awareness? This one-day introductory course is a great place to start.

Instruction starts in the classroom and then moves out onto the mountain where you will learn how to recognize avalanche hazards, basic technique for transceiver use and how to dig and understand a snow pit.

This course is a pre-requisite for the Avalanche Skills Training Course for those with no previous Avalanche Awareness.

Register at the Mountain at the Guest Services desk, at our downtown office, or call 250-354-4944.

Dates:

• December 20, 2008
• January 3, 2009
• January 17, 2009
• February 7, 2009
• February 28, 2009

Price:

• $35.00

Avalanche skills training
This 3-day course, recognized by the Canadian Avalanche Association, is highly recommended for anyone interested in backcountry travel. The course is also a pre-requisite for the CAA level 1 avalanche course.

Topics covered in the course include steps on how to plan and carry out a trip, avalanche terrain recognition, terrain analysis and safe travel techniques., snow pack structure and avalanche rescue procedures.

The first evening of the course is spent indoors in a location in downtown Nelson, and runs from 5:00pm-9:30pm. The following two days are spent outside in the field, up at Whitewater Ski Resort. Expect to be outside all day (8:30am-3:30pm) while undergoing moderate activity.

Participants must have: Avalanche transceiver, probe & shovel, touring bindings (ie Alpine Trekkers/Fritschi Touring bindings), climbing skins or snowshoes for snowboarders, collapsible poles. This equipment can be rented at Whitewater (make sure you pre-book and get fitted at the rental shop before the start of the course.)

Participants 16 years or younger require the 1day Whitewater Avalanche Awareness course AND prior approval of the lead instructor. If participants 17 years or older do not have any backcountry experience, then the avalanche awareness course is a pre-requisite.

Sign up at the Guest Services Desk at the mountain, in the downtown office, or call 250-354-4944.

Dates:

• December 26th-28th, 2008
• January 9th - 11th, 2009
• January 23rd - 25th, 2009
• February 13th - 15th, 2009

Price:

• $185.00  *Includes Backcountry Avalanche Awareness book & Avaluator (put out by the Canadian Avalanche Centre)