Just a quick heads up. There are 10 more spaces in the avy class scheduled for next weekend in Chetwynd. Field sessions in Hasler. Bring your buddies...you want them smarter than you!
March 28-29 +
For course details and to register, CLICK HERE.
What you can expect to learn
* 4 persistent weak layers and what you can do to avoid them
* why all hoars are bad, even the pretty ones
* why your long time local knowledge of a riding area isn’t always enough to keep you safe
* your snowmobile can be a tool or it can be a weapon. Learn to use its power to your advantage
* key webpages that should be accessed before each riding day
* FREE sources to gather and build your avy knowledge and experience
* why the blueprint changes season to season, even from day to day. What is this year’s blueprint?
* why rocks and trees are like icebergs
* eight killer terrain features
* the 5 most important questions to ask when organizing a rescue
* how to properly use an avalanche probe (no, I will not be quoting Cartman from Southpark but what I show you will probably surprise you)
* who in your riding group is an asset and who is a liability
* key benefits and limitations of beacons, probes, shovels, and airbags. Features you should look for in your friend’s gear. (Afterall, the gear that your friends carry is to SAVE YOUR LIFE. Make sure it is the best stuff!)
* and of course, how to use that beacon hanging around your neck.
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Here are some comments from a few guys that took the Grande Prairie class last month:
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Thanks again for putting on the GP course, it may have already saved my life.
I was sledding out in Kakwa by Mt. Alexander, travelling across a glacier. I was only going about 5-10km/hr (basically just sightseeing) when the snow underneath me gaveway. Turns out it was a crevasse that was blown over, I just looked forward to see the snow breaking up under my ski’s but it was to late to do anything. I landed in ...
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My father and I took the AST1 course in Grande Prairie and I would like to start out saying thank you to you and Randy for putting on such a great course. I’m pretty new to the whole sledding business and I learned a ton of useful information. My father, that has been sledding for years with his friends, told me he was amazed ...
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Just a quick note to thank you and your staff for such a fantastic course. The info you provided and the manner in which you provided it was just awesome.
I took in so much critical info ...
CLICK HERE to read the rest of these comments.
Any questions? Call Lori Z. at 403-850-3042 or pm me.
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I cut this from the Mar 12/09 CAC Public Avalanche Report for the North Rockies region.
CLICK HERE to be redirected to the Canadian Avalanche Centre's website.
"The older facets from the beginning of the season are now fairly deep and should not be much of an issue until the warm spring melt cycle begins. The layers of concern are nearer the surface. On Feb. 23 and March 1 layers of sun crust and surface hoar developed. On top of this you should now have around 30-60cm of snow, which is producing moderate to hard shears with stability tests. With the warm temperatures and winds this slab could be ripe for skier or sledder triggering."
The first sentence here is forewarning that spring could see large and destructive avalanches.
Don't let this seasons' avy conditions catch you by surprise. Be prepared. No one plans to be in an avalanche.
