Avalanche Level 2 Training Courses in Utah, Wyoming & Montana

Overview:

The Avalanche Level 2 course is designed for backcountry recreationists with level 1 avalanche skills who want to go deeper with their snow and avalanche knowledge, as well as travel in more complex terrain. On this course, we spend time expanding student’s knowledge of the science of snow metamorphism, and apply this knowledge to have a better understanding of the season snowpack history and the nature of existing avalanche problems. We utilize the AAI Backcountry Avalanche Checklist as a system for sorting and prioritizing information in the field, setting a tone of teamwork, and minimizing human factor traps.

Forty percent of the course is online/classroom based and the other sixty percent is field based. We will travel in the backcountry, in and around avalanche terrain.

Still have questions? See our frequently asked questions section for details on gear, what’s provided on a course, and more.

All Upcoming Dates and Locations:

December 16, 2023 - February 17, 2024 - Avalanche Level 2 - Jackson, Wyoming
January 18, 2024 - January 20, 2024 - Avalanche Level 2 - Salt Lake City, Utah
January 26, 2024 - January 28, 2024 - Avalanche Level 2 - Jackson, Wyoming
February 15, 2024 - February 17, 2024 - Avalanche Level 2 - Salt Lake City, Utah
February 23, 2024 - February 25, 2024 - Avalanche Level 2 - Bozeman, Montana
March 7, 2024 - March 9, 2024 - Avalanche Level 2 - Salt Lake City, Utah
March 15, 2024 - March 17, 2024 - Avalanche Level 2 - Jackson, Wyoming

This course will cover the following:

Tracking the season snowpack history
Characteristics of the different avalanche problems
Weather history, avalanche problems, and stability assessment
Formation of persistent weak layers – facets, depth hoar, surface hoar
Wet snow metamorphism
Avalanche terrain – large & small scale features
Group management in challenging/complex terrain
Stability tests – incorporating strength, structure and propagation potential
Introduction to SWAG documentation
Tour planning
Use of the AAI Backcountry Avalanche Checklist as a field tool for sorting & prioritizing information
Human factor traps and solutions
Case studies with analysis using AAI Backcountry Avalanche Checklist

Prerequisites:

Avalanche Level 1 Course
Minimum of one season between the Level 1 & Level 2, used to apply the tools and strategies learned on the Level 1 avalanche course.
This course can be taken on AT skis, splitboard, or snowboard with snowshoes. Participants must have experience on their setup prior to taking this course and be comfortable in steep blue to black terrain at the areas.

Preparation:

Recommended Reading:

Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain, Bruce Tremper
Snow, Weather and Avalanches: Observational Guidelines for Avalanche Programs in the United States (SWAG)