Home > Avalanche Education > Programs
| Avalanche Education Course List |  |
 Avalanche
Awareness Lectures |
top |
This entertaining and educational 2 hour multimedia presentation provides an overview of the awesome phenomenon of avalanches! Gain a basic understanding of classification, formation and release of avalanches. This programs is a great primer before taking the Avalanche Level I or Level II Seminars or as a refresher before heading on a backcountry adventure.
"I have already taken the MAS Level I but need a refresher. This was perfect." (Anonymous - December 2005)
| Price: | $15* | ||
| Length | 2 hours | ||
| 07/08 Dates: | Start Time: | Location: | |
| December 5 | 6:30 PM | Marmot Mounain Works | Berkeley |
| December 13 | 7 PM | Wolf Creek Wilderness | Grass Valley |
| December 27 | 7 PM | Bear Valley Lodge | Bear Valley |
| January 9 | 6:30 PM | Marmot Mounain Works | Berkeley |
| January 17 | 8-10 PM | Planet Granite | Sunnyvale |
| January 23 | 6:30 PM | REI | Sacramento |
| January 24 | 6:30 PM | REI | Folsom |
| February 6 | 6:30 PM | Marmot Mounain Works | Berkeley |
| February 12 | 6:30 PM | REI | Roseville |
| Registration: | Either contact MAS or use our secure online registration form | ||
* - attendees receive a 10% discount for all MAS avalanche programs
Avalanche Awareness Lectures can also be offered by private arrangements to your friends, classmates or co-workers. Contact the MAS office to receive a quote and schedule a lecture at your convenience.
| Avalanche
Level I Seminar |
This popular 3-day course is the starting point for safe winter backcountry travel. During the first two days gain essential backcountry snow safety education with avalanche hazard evaluation, beacon use and rescue skills. An introduction to snowpack analysis and weather factors as they pertain to snow stability will be covered both inside and out.
Day three (aka - Avalanche Skills Tour) is a ski and snowshoe tour focusing on safe traveling techniques, evaluating slope stability and the "human-factor" on decision making in the avalanche terrain. The "Avalanche Skills Tour" if offered both immediately following some Level I Seminars and seaparately on pre-scheduled weekends.
Participants are welcome to just attend the first 2 days but the AIARE Level I Certiciate is only awarded after completing all 3 days.
This was a great introductory 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)
| Prices: | 2 days: | $250 (includes course booklet & use of beacon, probe & shovel) |
| 3 days: | $375 (includes Avalanche Skills Tour + AIARE Level I Certificate + save $20) | |
| More Info: | ||
| Location: | Bear Valley, CA | |
| Length: | 2 or 3 days (3 days is recommended) | |
| Prerequisites: | • avalanche lecture recommended | |
| Meeting Time: | 8 AM at BaseCamp | |
| Skill Level: |  |
|
| Fitness Level: |  |
|
| Dates 2007/2008: | December: 8-9, 19-20. 22-23, 2007 | |
| January: 4-5*, 19-20*, 2008 | ||
| February: 16-17*, 2008 | ||
| March: 1-2, 29-30*, 2008 | ||
| * - offered with "Avalanche Skills Tour" (3 days) - AIARE certified | ||
| Registration: | Either contact MAS or use our secure online registration form | |
|
Advanced skiers and snowboarders are welcome to enroll in this exciting and fast-paced avalanche education program which takes place at BaseCamp and the Bear Valley Mountain Resort*. Gain essential backcountry snow safety education with avalanche hazard evaluation, beacon use and rescue skills. An introduction to snowpack analysis and discussion of weather factors as they pertain to snow stability will be covered both inside and out. "Soft boundaries" at the ski resort will be used to learn about backcountry conditions. Emphasis will focus on evaluating slope stability, safe route finding and the "human-factor" on decision making in avalanche terrain.
"Our guide Michael McCarthy was well prepared and knows his material. He is a great instructor! I really enjoyed the time spent at the ski area looking at different terrain and picking safe travel routes. Plus the skiing was awesome!"(January 2006)
* - since this course takes place at a ski resort and uses chairlifts to access backcountry terrain, lift ticket or season pass are required for the first 2 days (discounts available - see below).
| Prices: | 2 days: | $275 - includes course booklet & use of beacon, probe & shovel $315 - with discounted lift ticket for day 2 (save $9) |
| 3 days: | $400 - includes Avalanche Skills Tour + AIARE Level I Certificate $440 - with discounted lift ticket for day 2 (save $9) |
|
| More Course Info: | ||
| Location: | Bear Valley, CA | |
| Length: | 2 or 3 days (3 days is recommended) | |
| Prerequisites: | • advanced ski and snowboard skills • avalanche lecture recommended + save 10% on Level I tuition |
|
| Meeting Time: | 9 AM at eith the MAS Office or Ski Cabin (participants will be notified 1 week ahead of time) | |
| Skill Level: |  |
|
| Ski/Board Level: |  |
|
| Fitness Level: | |
|
| Dates: | January: 12-13, 2007 | |
| February: 2-3*, 8-9, 2008 | ||
| March: 8-9, 15-16*, 2008 | ||
| Registration: | Either contact MAS or use our secure online registration form | |
|
Put your avalanche skills to use and solidify the Level I curriculum during this full day backcountry tour designed to compliment the first 2-days of the Level I Seminar. Participants will help establish a route plan specific to the days conditions. Then out in the field skiers, snowboarders and snowshoers will practice travel techniques specific to their mode of transportation and gain valuable experience in choosing safe travel paths through avalanche terrain. In addition gain more rescue skills in both single and multi-burial scenarios. This is also a great course for those who took a Level I course in the past and are looking for a refresher course.
| Price: | $125 (includes the use of avalanche beacon, probe and shovel) |
| Length: | 1 day (8 AM - 4 PM) |
| Locations: | Bear Valley, CA |
| Prerequisites: | Level I Avalanche Seminar or equivalent |
| Skill Level: |  |
| Fitness Level: | |
| Dates 2008: | January: 6, 21, 26 |
| February: 4, 18, 23 | |
| March: 17, 22 | |
| April 12 | |
| Registration: | Either contact MAS or use our secure online registration form |
| 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, nordic 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. Make it a point to gain these valuable skills to make your backcountry adventures safer and more enjoyable.
"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)
| Price: | $475 | (inclds AIARE Level II cert., course booklet & use of beacon, probe & shovel) |
| More Course Info: | ||
| Length: | 4 days | |
| Location: | Bear Valley, CA | |
| Meeting Time: | 8 AM at BaseCamp | |
| Prerequisites: | Level I Avalanche Seminar or equivalent | |
| Skill Level: |  |
|
| Fitness Level: | |
|
| Dates 2008: | February 21-24 | |
| March 20-23 | ||
| Registration: | Either contact MAS or use our secure online registration form | |
