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Avalanche
Safety Courses
2012
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Course
overview
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Course
dates & availability
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Can
you ever put a price on safety? No you can't, but
these courses are run at a fixed low price to minimise
the risks of people putting off getting these key
safety skills. The courses take place in Chamonix,
and you are taught the use of avalanche tranceivers,
shovels, and probes. You also focus on avalanche
prediction, construct snow pits, and do Rutschblock
tests to assess the snowpack. |
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When
developing these courses, we wanted them to be accessible
to both skiers and boarders. You spend the day(s)
on snow shoes (loaned for free), as this needs no
previous experience, so you can concentrate on learning
as much as possible during the day. |
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This
really sets us apart from all the other avalanche
courses we have seen, that spend over half the time
skiing, not learning. If you want a day of off piste
skiing, just hire a guide! These courses are focused
on teaching you as much as possible. |
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We
provide the avalanche tranceivers, snow shovels
and probes for the day, but if you have your own
you are recommended to bring them to learn how to
use them better. |
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The days are led by qualified Guides or International
Mountain Leaders, and due to the huge instructional
element, we ensure that the leader is British so
that they can explain all the essential safety information
really informatively. If you are planning on any
off piste, snowshoeing, or ski touring this winter,
this course will provide you with essential safety
skills. |
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Read
all about a course from Kelly the Chamonix.net snow
reporter.
See what she thought. Click to read the report
on Chamonix.net (or on the logo
to the right), or click here to see
PDF version of article. |
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On
demand: if
no scheduled course dates are showing in the column
on the right, we can still operate a course on demand,
on any dates from December through until the end
of April,
for a minimum of four people booking together. |
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Dates:
these
are listed in the column on the right, and they
show the live availability from our secure online
booking system. When you book online, you receive
immediate confirmation, your Alpine Information
Booklet, course specific kit list and invoice. |
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Course Dates
Avalanche Safety Day
- [ 2 ] 08 - February 2012
- [ 0 ] 14 - March 2012
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Course Dates
Avalanche Weekend
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| Client
feedback |
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It's
amazing how little you really know about
snow, and this course really made me aware
of the risks I had been taking
Rob
Garstang , Avalanche Weekend
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You
wouldn't believe how many books I had read
about avalanche awareness before the course,
but the way it was taught, and the amount
of great tips we were given, made it really
come alive to me, and explained it so clearly
and effectively. Thanks.
Alison
Green , Avalanche Weekend
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Course
Photo Gallery
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Course
Itinerary
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Key
learning points
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In
the morning you meet in our centrally located Chamonix
office, and meet with your instructor who will be
an expert in backcountry travel and snow safety.
They will talk through the plans for the day(s),
and the latest conditions. Then it's time for a
quick route safety plan, and sorting out any safety
kit that is needed. There is a great choice of locations
to operate these courses, such as the Plan de l'Aiguille,
Berard Valley, or La Tour. We can always find a
suitable and safe location to react to the conditions
and avalanche forecast. |
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The
day(s) are conducted in Alpine terrain, where you
can study the snow pack safely. To access the regions
you either take a cable car, or travel up the Chamonix
valley and then walk in on snow shoes. This means
that the course is equally accessible to skiers
with no touring experience, winter walkers / climber,
or boarders. |
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This
course should give you a greater level of autonomy
for your off piste days or winter walking. If you
would like to read a bit about avalanche avoidance
skills before your course, read this article written
by one of our instructors: click
here to view article. |
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The
key difference between the two courses, is that
the weekend course goes into far greater detail,
especially in terms of route choice, avalanche safety
and crystal analysis. As well as having the extra
day of guiding, the weekend course also includes
a classroom session with a presentation about avalanche
awareness. |
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ITINERARY
NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries. Mountain
adventures are weather and conditions dependant,
so occasionaly we are forced to alter the plans.
If this is the case, suitable alternatives are offered.
Please use this outline itinerary as a guide to
the types of route / activity that you will attempt. |
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Evolution of the snow pack |
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Avalanche
tranceiver searches |
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Rutschblock
stability tests |
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Tranceiver
detection fields |
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Trip
planning and preparation |
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Avalanche
form / release patterns |
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Different
types of avalanches |
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Crystal
metamorphasis |
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Slab
formation and layering |
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Victim
recovery methods |
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Travel
techniques on snowpacks |
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Assessing
different snow profiles |
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Decision
making processes |
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Weather
& climatic influences |
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Identifying
islands of safety |
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| Course
Prices |
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Day
course
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1
day IFMGA / UIMLA guiding, 1:6 max |
£49pp |
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Weekend
course
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2
days IFMGA / UIMLA guiding, 1:6 max |
£149pp |
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Live
availability
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Click
on the planner logo to the right
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Secure
online booking system |
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Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain Guide or UIMLA
International Mountain Leader for one day (day course) or two
days (weekend course), 2) Chamonix course hosts for logistics
& briefings, 3) Pre course information booklet, 4) Equipment
discount voucher for UK shops, 5) Chamonix office support, 6)
Free course instruction crib sheet, 7) Loan of avalanche safety
gear and snowshoes during the course, if required. |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to & from Chamonix, 2) Cable Cars (approx £15),
3) Accommodation, 4) Personal laundry, telephone calls, lunches,
& any purchases in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants,
5) Activities insurance, & excess baggage charges. |
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| Notes:
The
loan of snowshoes and avalanche safety kit is included (tranceiver,
avalanche probe and shovel). |
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