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.

Courses:

• Free Avalanche Awareness Lecture (1.5 hours)
• Avalanche Awareness Workshop (1 day)
• AIARE Avalanche Level I Seminar (3 days)
• AIARE Sidecountry Level I Seminar (3 days)
  
• Avalanche Level I Refresher Workshop (1 day)
• AIARE Avalanche Level II Seminar (4 days)
• AIARE Avalanche Level III Seminar(7 days)

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.

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
  

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
  

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.