Our avalanche courses follow the Swiss Mountain Training syllabus. Swiss Mountain training are an organisation supported by SLF (Swiss Avalanche forecasting association) Swiss Mountain Guides and Swiss Health and Safety department.
If you are planning to ski off piste then these weekend courses are a great way to start your holiday.
There are two modules to the Swiss Mountain Training standard:
Level 1 is a one day course dealing with basic avalanche awareness and avalanche rescue techniques.
Level 2 is a two day course and the continuation from level. It goes into more detail on the avalanche science and explores group management and safer travel techniques in avalanche terrain.
Certification is given by Swiss Mountain Training.
Swiss Mountain Training Level 1
Dates 13th January 2024
Price SFr150. Accommodation and ski pass not included.
- The avalanche phenomenon
- How the weather and conditions both past and present influences the snowpack
- Analysing and documenting the snow pack by digging snow pits
- Assessing the snowpack for stability
- How to create an overview of the current avalanche risk and be able to make an avalanche forecast
- Route finding in avalanche terrain and managing the risk.
- Develop a greater situational awareness in the field so that you better informed decisions on safe snow, travel and route finding.
- Use of Avalanche transceivers for search and retrieval
- Use of avalanche probes and shovels
- Self-rescue systems and the survival aspect of being in an avalanche situation
Course Outline
Day 1 Saturday
The emphasis of the morning is to understand the avalanche phenomena. We start with a classroom session covering snow science and the mechanisms that trigger avalanches.
We then venture outdoors to use a snow pit (profile) as a tool to enhance our understanding of snow science so that we can further develop our understanding of snow science. We will use these finding in conjunction with the current weather and avalanche information which we reviewed on Friday evening to ascertain the current avalanche risk.
A training session on avalanche rescue protocol and the use of transceivers, probes and shovels is done at the end of the day.
During the evening we will make an avalanche forecast using the data from the snow pit analysis and weather forecast. We will also consider potential itineraries for the next day and discuss the merits of these in terms of safety and quality of snow for skiing. Being in the right place is incredibly important in avalanche terrain and a defensive approach is encouraged.
The course debrief will be at 5pm.
Swiss Mountain Training Level 2
Dates 6th and 7th January 2024
Price SFr300. Accommodation and lift pass not included.
This is a two day course for people who have already had some training in avalanche awareness.
The Level 2 course is a much more detailed course and aimed at those who will be taking a leadership role when skiing off piste or ski touring.
In addition to a review of the level 1 course we will cover.
- More in depth theory of snow science and avalanche awareness
- Making a detailed analysis and documenting the snow pack. This will help give you a greater understanding of the snow stability.
- Advanced use of transceivers and avalanche rescue procedures.
- Route finding and avalanche avoidance
- Leadership skills
- Group Management to enhance safety in avalanche terrain
