MAS Avalanche Education

MAS Avalanche Education

MAS avalanche courses blend classroom and "on-snow" exercises to provide a thorough and "hands-on" understanding of avalanche hazards and how to avoid them. MAS follows the standards set by the American Institute of Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) which is recognized internationally as the industry leader in avalanche education.
Courses: Avalanche Awareness Lecture AIARE Avalanche Level I Seminar Avalanche Level I Refresher Workshop - AIARE Avalanche Level II Seminar AIARE Avalanche Level III Seminar

Avalanche Awareness Lecture		top

This educational 2 hour multimedia presentation provides an overview of the awesome phenomenon of avalanches! Attendees will gain a basic understanding of the formation and release of avalanches. This programs is a great primer before taking the Avalanche Level I Seminar or as a refresher before heading on a backcountry adventure.
"It has been over 5 years since my last formal avalanche course and this was a great refresher to get me back in the game. Overall great show!" D. McCormick - 2008

Price:	$18 / $20 at the door(FREE for children 15 and under)
Length:	2 hours (6:30 - 8:30 PM)
2009/2010:	Dates:	Location:
Sunnyvale:	November 12	Sports Basement (FREE)
Berkeley:	December 8	Marmot Mountain Works - Berkeley
Stockton:	December 9	REI - Stockton (6-8 PM) CANCELLED
Sunnyvale:	December 10	Sports Basement (FREE)
Stockton:	January 6	REI - Stockton (6-8 PM)
Roseville:	January 12	REI - Roseville
Berkeley:	January 13	Marmot Mountain Works - Berkeley
Sacramento:	January 20	REI - Sacramento
Folsom:	January 21	REI - Folsom
Registration:	ONLINE REGISTRATION - or pay at the door, space permitting.

This presentation is also available by private arrangements to your friends, classmates or co-workers.

AIARE Avalanche Level I Seminar

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Learn essential avalanche avoidance skills during this 3 day intensive course. Our focus is backcountry safety, including "Out of Bounds" terrain. All participants will gain a thorough un standing of hazard evaluation, trip planning, 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 finding and travel techniques
Decision making and human factors
Companion rescue and equipment

This was a great avalanche course. My expectations were more than met - actually exceeded. I appreciated how the instructor explained her decisions for where we were traveling in the backcountry. This really helped put the course together for me." (Lisa Hale - January, 2006)

More Info:	PDF
Price:	$365
Location:	Bear Valley, CA
Length:	3 days*
Prerequisites:	• Ability to travel on snow with appropriate backcountry gear (e.g. - ski, snowshoe or splitboard) • Good physical condition (3-5 miles & 6 hours traveling on the snow) • Avalanche Lecture recommended
Meeting Time:	9 AM at the MAS office in Bear Valley
Dates 2009/2010:	December 11-13, 2009 (Fri-Sun)
	December 19-21, 2009 (Sat-Mon) - sold out
	December 28-30, 2009 (Mon-Wed)
	January 2-4, 2010 (Sat-Mon) - sold out
	January 8-10, 2010 (Fri-Sun) - sold out
	January 16-18, 2010 (Sat-Mon) - sold out
	January 23-25 ( (Sat-Mon) - new date
	January 29-31, 2010 (Fri-Sun)
	February 13-15, 2010 (Sat-Mon)
	February 19-21, 2010 (Fri-Sun)
	March 13-15 (Sat-Mon)
	March 26-28 (Fri-Sun)
Lodging:	Nordic Loft & other Bear Valley options.
Registration:	ONLINE REGISTRATION or call - (209) 753-6556

* - Participants can split the course over two weekends. Contact MAS to discuss details.

Avalanche Level I Refresher Workshop

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This one day course is designed for AIARE Avalanche Level I graduates looking to stay up to date and refresh their rescue skills. After a brief morning classroom session the group will transition to spend the rest of the day outdoors evaluating hazards, travel techniques and practicing rescue scenarios.

Topics Covered:

Avalanche forecast interpretation
Review AIARE "Overstrain Checklist"
Personal & group gear
Terrain identification & hazard evaluation
Terrain travel & group management
Snowpack bonding test (hasty & compression)
Rescue technique & scenario with multi-burial

Price:	$125 (includes the use of avalanche beacon, probe and shovel)
Length:	1 day (8 AM - 4 PM)
Meeting Time & Place:	8 AM at the MAS office in Bear Valley
Prerequisites:	• AIARE Level I Avalanche Seminar or equivalent • Ability to travel on snow with appropriate backcountry gear (e.g. - ski, snowshoe or splitboard) • Good physical condition (2-4 miles on the snow)
Dates 2009/2010:	December 12, 23
	January 3, 15, 23
	February 12
	March 20 (new date)
	April 16 (new date)
Lodging:	Nordic Loft & other Bear Valley options.
Registration:	ONLINE REGISTRATION or call - (209) 753-6556

AIARE Avalanche Level II Seminar	top

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.

"This was a great program. I feel much better about taking my friends into the backcountry. Gary Bard was a fantastic instructor, well prepared, in depth knowledge and made the course fun!" (Paul Nordquist - January 2005)

Prices:	$500
Length:	4 days
Location:	Bear Valley, CA
Meeting Time:	Day 1: 9 AM at the MAS office in Bear Valley
Prerequisites:	Level I Avalanche Course or equivalent
Dates 2010:	January 23-26, 2010
Lodging:	Nordic Loft & other Bear Valley options.
Registration:	ONLINE REGISTRATION or call - (209) 753-6556

AIARE Avalanche Level III Seminar	top

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.
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.

Prices:	$1500
Length:	7 days
Location:	June Lake, CA
Prerequisites:	AIARE Level II Avalanche
Dates 2010:	January 25-31, 2010
Registration:	contact AIARE

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