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Simply Savoie

Simply Savoie

Guided walking – snowshoeing – via ferrata in the French Alps with Mark Tennent

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Snow Crystal Examination
A full depth avalanche in the Beaufortain.
Avalanche Close to Piste

Avalanche Training Essentials Course

€140.00

  • Full day practical & theoretical course
  • Interpreting the avalanche forecast
  • Understanding the snowpack.
  • Planning your trip in the mountains.
  • Decision making & risk reduction methods including the “human factor”.
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Categories: Avalanche Training, Winter Tags: Avalanche, Probe, Rescue, Search, Shovel, Training, Transceiver
  • Description
  • Itinerary
  • Details

Description

The avalanche training essentials course is for those who want avalanche training before skiing off-piste, going ski touring or snowshoe walking.  The training course covers the essential topics needed to reduce the risk of being involved in an avalanche incident. 

Mark is an approved trainer by the ANENA (The French National Snow and Avalanche Association) and former trainer and assessor the International Mountain Leader Award. Read more about Mark …

Avalanche Course Content

Interpreting the Avalanche Forecast

Reading and interpreting the avalanche forecast is full of detail; each word is chosen carefully.  It is vital to read the avalanche forecast in depth and not just skim read it. Many incidents take place when the risk level is at 2 or 3 and yet the location and type of risk was clearly indicated in the bulletin.

Understanding the snow pack

An essential part of any avalanche training course is understanding the snowpack.  You will learn to observe and analyse current snow conditions. You will understand what conditions are “favourable” and “unfavourable”.

You will be introduced to some common stability tests.  These tests can help you understand the snow pack better and confirm information found in the avalanche forecast.

Reading the ground

Be able to identify favourable and unfavourable terrain to choose appropriate routes.

Decision Making & Risk Reduction Methods

Fundamental to any avalanche training is the decision making process. A systematic approach avoids falling into “heuristic traps” (the human factor) often at the root of poor decisions. These were highlighted in the work of Ian McCammon who identified six “traps”.

Risk Reduction Tools & Methods

Munter 3 x 3 – Munter, a Swiss avalanche “guru” developed a method using a grid with the key factors being: ground, conditions and the human factor.

Nivotest – developed by Robert Bolognesi, www.meteorisk.com is a small card with a series of questions based on conditions, terrain and the group. Your answers are scored and a wheel turned to give a favourable, ambivalent or defavourable result.

MRG (Graphical Reduction Method) – based on Munter’s 3 x 3 (with variants in Germany (“Snow Card”) and in Austria (“Stop or Go”).

This course is complimentary to Introductory Avalanche Search and Rescue Training Course or the Intermediate Avalanche Search and Rescue Training Course

Itinerary

Session 1 Indoors (c. 1 hr)

  • Coffee, Introductions and self-evaluation
  • Practical snow fundamentals (nivology)
  • The snowpack: surface aspects, observation and analysis
  • Interpreting the avalanche forecast
  • Trip preparation
  • Using various tools
  • Understanding the decision making process.

Session 2 – Route Choice & Movement on the ground ( 4 – 5hrs)

  • Reading the signs and indications (snow pack, near ground, slope aspect, etc)
  • Snowpack stability – exploring the snowpack. “stability games”.
  • Risk evaluation tools inc. Nivotest, 3 x 3
  • Route choice and selection on the ground

Session 3 – Indoors (c. 1 hr)

  • Increasing practical snowpack knowledge
  • Examples of avalanches
  • Slab release mechanisms
  • Feedback from on the ground experience
  • The role of the leader, group factors, communication
  • Strategies for crossing potentially unstable ground.

Details

Duration: 1 day

Group size: max 2 min. 4 – max. 8

Private training by arrangement please contact me.

Locations:

Courchevel, Meribel, La Tania, St Martin de Belleville. Other locations available for private individuals or groups. Please contact me.

What’s Included

  • Instruction

What’s Not included

  • Avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel ? can be hired from Mark (Euro 15 per kit).
  • Accommodation
  • Meals & Snacks
  • Lift Passes – these are not normally required.
  • Insurance
  • Travel to / from the meeting point.
  • Personal clothing & equipment

Duration:

c. 7 hours

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