Avalanche Education |
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MAS avalanche courses blend classroom and "on-snow" exercises to provide a thorough and "hands-on" understanding of avalanche hazards. MAS follows the standards set by AIARE (American Institute
of Avalanche Research and Education) which is recognized internationally as the industry leader in avalanche education. MAS avalanche course participants benefit from our classroom that is literally a stones throw from the snow so little time is wasted when transitioning to the field portions. Overall MAS and Bear Valley provide the ideal setting for learning and honing your winter backcountry skills.
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Courses:
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Free Avalanche
Awareness Lecture |
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These educational 1.5 hour multimedia presentations provide an overview of the awesome
phenomenon of avalanches! Attendees gain
a basic understanding of the formation and release of avalanches and ways to avoid them. This program is a great primer before taking the MAS Avalanche Level I Seminar or Refresher Workshop. |
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| Price: |
Free |
| Length: |
1.5 hours (7 - 8:30 PM) |
| 2011/2012 |
Location |
Store |
| December 6 |
Saratoga |
REI (register online w/REI to reserve your seat) |
| December 7 |
Concord |
REI (register online w/REI to reserve your seat) |
| December 8 |
San Francisco |
Sports Basement |
| December 13 |
Sunnyvale |
Sports Basement |
| December 14 |
Livermore |
Sunrise Mountain Sports |
| December 20 |
Stockton |
REI (register online w/REI to reserve your seat) |
| January 4 |
Berkeley |
Marmot Mountain Works |
| January 5 |
Folsom |
REI (register online w/REI to reserve your seat) |
| January 10 |
Roseville |
REI (register online w/REI to reserve your seat) |
| January 11 |
Sacramento |
REI (register online w/REI to reserve your seat) |
| January 17 |
Santa Rosa |
REI (register online w/REI to reserve your seat) |
| January 18 |
San Carlos |
REI (register online w/REI to reserve your seat) |
| January 19 |
Berkeley |
REI (register online w/REI to reserve your seat) |
| January 24 |
Monterey |
REI (register online w/REI to reserve your seat) |
| January 25 |
San Francisco |
REI (register online w/REI to reserve your seat) |
| January 26 |
Mountain View |
REI (register online w/REI to reserve your seat) |
| January 31 |
San Francisco |
Sports Basement |
| February 1 |
Corte Madera |
REI (register online w/REI to reserve your seat) |
| February 2 |
Dublin |
REI (register online w/REI to reserve your seat) |
| February 7 |
Sunnyvale |
Sports Basement |
| February 15 |
Berkeley |
Marmot Mountain Works |
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Avalanche Awareness Workshop
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This one day course covers the fundamentals of avalanche hazard recognition and avoidance. This program is designed for both aspiring and experienced winter backcountry travelers looking to expand their knowledge avalanches. Participants will learn about the avalanche bulletin, hazard recognition, travel techniques including a rescue demonstration.
Topics Covered:
- Introduce and interpret avalanche bulletin
- Identify avalanche terrain & hazards
- Discuss and practice backcountry travel techniques
- Demonstration of companion rescue
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| Price: |
$125 |
| Length: |
1 day (9 AM - 5 PM) |
| Location: |
Bear Valley, CA |
| Meeting Place: |
MAS office in the BaseCamp Lodge at Bear Valley |
| Prerequisites: |
• Good physical fitness to travel 3-4 miles over snow
• Ability to travel over snow on skis, snowshoes or splitboard*
• MAS Avalanche Awareness Lecture recommended |
| Dates 2011/2012: |
December 11
December 30
January 15
February 26 |
| Additional Resources: |
How to Prepare for an AIARE Level I Course
Sierra Avalanche Center
Highway 4 Road Conditions |
| Local Lodging: |
Nordic Loft & other Bear Valley options |
Registration:  |
Online Registration or contact the MAS office |
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* - Inexperienced winter backcountry travelers should consider taking either the MAS Snowshoe Adventure or Introduction to Backcountry Ski/Board Workshop before this class.
AIARE Avalanche
Level I Seminar |
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Learn essential avalanche avoidance skills during this 3 day course (24 hours of instruction). Focus is on recognizing and mitigating hazards and learning to make good decisions in avalanche terrain. All participants gain a thorough understanding of terrain and snowpack evaluation, trip planning, travel techniques and rescue skills.
Topics Covered:
- Types and characteristics of avalanches
- Avalanche hazards - “Red Flags”
- Intro. to snowpack layering & metamorphosis
- Bonding tests: compression test & rutschblock
- Field observations techniques
- Trip Planning and preparation
- Route finding and travel techniques
- Decision making and human factors
- Companion rescue and equipment
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This was a great course and my expectations were exceeded. I especially appreciated how both instructors explained their observations while we were traveling in the backcountry. This helped gel the course materia for me." (L. Hale - Jan, 2011)
| Price: |
$375 |
Includes PDF Student Manual, use of beacon, probe, shovel and snow study kit during the course |
| Length*: |
3 days (24 hour course) |
| Location: |
Bear Valley, CA |
| Prerequisites**: |
• Ability to travel over snow with telemark, randonee or splitboard with skins, or snowshoes. All rentable through MAS.
• Good physical condition (3-5 miles & 6 hours traveling on the snow)
• MAS Avalanche Awareness Lecture recommended |
| Course Materials***: |
• PDF Student Manual emailed after registration
• Required AIARE Field book ($20) available at registration
• Printed Student Manual ($5) available at registration (optional)
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| Meeting Place: |
MAS office in the BaseCamp Lodge at Bear Valley |
| Course Times: |
Day 1: 9AM - 5PM
Day 2: 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Day 3: 8AM - 4PM |
| Dates 2011/2012: |
December 17-19 (Sat-Mon)
December 27-29 (Tue-Thu)
January 6-8 (Fri-Sun)
January 14-16 (Sat-Mon; MLK weekend)
January 21-23 (Sat-Mon)
January 27-29 (Fri-Sun)
February 3-5 (Sat-Mon) - new date
February 18-20 (Sat-Mon; Presidents weekend)
March 2-4 (Fri-Sun)
March 16-18 (Fri-Sun) |
| Additional Resources: |
How to Prepare for an AIARE Level I Course
Sierra Avalanche Center
Highway 4 Road Conditions |
| Local Lodging: |
Nordic Loft & other Bear Valley options. |
More Course Info.:  |
PDF + equipment list |
Registration:  |
Online Registration or contact the MAS office |
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* - Participants can split the course over two seminars within the same season and still receive the AIARE Certificate of Completion. Contact MAS to discuss registration details.
** - Inexperienced winter backcountry travelers should consider taking either the MAS Snowshoe Adventure or Introduction to Backcountry Ski/Board Workshop before this class.
*** - A PDF Student Manual will be emailed shortly after registration and a printed copy is available for use during the course. Participants can purchase a printed manual ($5) as well as the required AIARE Field book ($20) during registration.
AIARE Sidecountry
Level I Seminar |
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This exciting program covers the same material in our Level I Seminar but utilizes the chair lifts and shuttles at the Bear Valley Mountain Resort to enable quick access to a variety of terrain. Advanced/Expert skiers and snowboarders are welcome to enroll.
Focus is on sidecountry travel & hazard recognition. All participants gain a thorough understanding of terrain and snowpack evaluation, travel techniques and rescue skills.
Topics Covered:
- Types and characteristics of avalanches
- Avalanche hazards - “Red Flags”
- An introduction to snowpack layering & metamorphosis
- Bonding tests: compression test & rutschblock
- Field observations techniques
- Trip planning and preparation
- Route selection and travel techniques
- Decision making and human factors
- Companion rescue and equipment
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| "You pushed me physically and mentally this weekend and delivered a great course of learning, schralping and more learning ... I had no idea Bear Valley had so much to offer. This place is a slice of heaven" Scott F. - 2011 |
| Prices: |
$425 |
Includes PDF Student Manual, use of beacon, probe, shovel and snow study kit during the course |
| $525 |
Includes 3 lift tickets |
| Location: |
Bear Valley, CA |
| Length*: |
3 days |
| Prerequisites: |
• Advanced skiing or snowboarding skills
• Good physical condition: participants may be required to hike short distances over snow.
• Avalanche Lecture recommended |
| Course Materials**: |
• PDF Student Manual emailed after registration
• Required AIARE Field book ($20) available at registration
• Printed Student Manual ($5) available at registration (optional)
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| Meeting Place: |
MAS office at the Bear Valley Mountain Resort |
| Course Times: |
Day 1: 9AM - 5PM
Day 2: 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Day 3: 8AM - 4PM |
| Dates 2011/2012: |
January 21-23 (Sat-Mon)
February 25-27 (Sat-Mon)
March 9-11 (Fri-Sun) |
| Additional Resources: |
How to Prepare for an AIARE Level I Course
Sierra Avalanche Center
Highway 4 Road Conditions |
| Local Lodging: |
Nordic Loft & other Bear Valley options. |
More Course Info.:  |
PDF + equipment list |
Registration:  |
Online Registration or contact the MAS office |
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* - Participants can split the course over two seminars within the same season and still receive the AIARE Certificate of Completion. Contact MAS to discuss registration details.
** - A PDF Student Manual will be emailed shortly after registration and a printed copy is available for use during the course. Participants can purchase a printed manual ($5) as well as the required AIARE Field book ($20) during registration.
Avalanche
Level I Refresher Workshop
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This one day course is for Avalanche Level I graduates looking to stay up to date and refresh their skills. After a morning classroom session the group transitions outside to evaluate terrain, hazards, and travel techniques. Plus a full-scale rescue scenario will be implemented as we all need to practice.
Topics Covered:
- Avalanche forecast updates
- Review AIARE "Overstrain Checklist"
- Personal & group gear
- Terrain identification & hazard updates
- Snowpack instability tests reviewed
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| Price: |
$125 |
| Location: |
Bear Valley, CA |
| Length: |
1 day (8 AM - 4 PM) |
| Meeting Place: |
MAS office in the BaseCamp Lodge at Bear Valley |
| Prerequisites: |
• Level
I Avalanche Seminar or equivalent
• Ability to travel over snow with telemark, randonee or splitboard with skins, or snowshoes. All rentable through MAS.
• Good physical condition comfortable hiking 3-4 miles in 4hrs.
• MAS Avalanche Awareness Lecture recommended |
| Dates 2011/2012: |
December 10
January 7
February 1 |
| Local Lodging: |
Nordic Loft & other Bear Valley options. |
Registration:  |
Online Registration or contact the MAS office |
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AIARE Avalanche
Level II Seminar |
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| Expand your knowledge to go beyond the comforts of the "daily avalanche forecast". This intensive 4-day course is perfect for club and group leaders, patrollers and other winter backcountry enthusiasts. Special attention will be given to snow pit construction, analysis, and breaking down the elements of avalanche forecasting. These skills are especially relevant if you are planning longer ski tours where snow conditions can change rapidly and unexpectedly. |
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A great course which expanded my understanding of snow, trip planning, travel techniques and rescue. The emphasis on time spent outdoors was appreciated. The instructors complimented each other and their attention to detail was awesome. (C. Miller - Feb. 2010)
| Price: |
$550 |
| Location: |
Bear Valley, CA |
| Length: |
4 days |
| Dates 2012*: |
February 2-5 (Thu-Sun) |
| Prerequisites: |
• AIARE Avalanche Level
I Course or equivalent
• Ability to travel over snow with telemark, randonee or splitboard with skins, or snowshoes. All rentable through MAS.
• Very good physical condition (3-5 miles & 6 hours on the snow) |
| Course Materials: |
• PDF Student Manual emailed shortly after registration
• Required AIARE Field book ($20) available during registration
• Required Avalanche Handbook ($22)
• Required SWAGS - Observational Guidelines ($20)
• Optional printed Student Manual ($10) |
| Meeting Place: |
MAS office in the BaseCamp Lodge at Bear Valley |
| Course Times: |
Day 1: 9AM - 5PM
Day 2: 8:30AM - 4:30PM
Day 3: 8AM - 4PM
Day 4: 8AM - 4PM |
| Local Lodging: |
Nordic Loft & other Bear Valley options. |
Registration:  |
Online Registration or contact the MAS office |
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* Avalanche Level I Refresher Course offered the day before the Level II on Feb. 1st.
AIARE Avalanche
Level III Seminar |
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The Level 3 course provides course participants with an industry based framework to make decisions in avalanche terrain and to manage avalanche hazards common to avalanche control operations and winter guiding scenarios.
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The Level 3 course builds on the concepts introduced in the prerequisite Level 2. These include standardizing snow and weather observations and techniques to the Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Guidelines of the American Avalanche Association (2009). The Level 3 takes the “trained observer and technician” and begins the process of making the information relevant to the complexities, variability, and influences of terrain.
More course details on the AIARE website.
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| Prices: |
$1500 |
| Length: |
7 days |
| Prerequisites: |
AIARE Level
II Avalanche |
| 2012 Dates/Locations: |
February 23 - March 1 - Hatcher Pass, AK
March 9-15; Silverton, CO |
Registration:  |
Contact AIARE |
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