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MAS Avalanche Education Programs

avalanche


Programs: avalanche course

 

avalanche lectures 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 Seminar or as a refresher before heading on a backcountry adventure. avalanche beacon
Price: $20 (FREE for children 15 years old and younger)
Length 2 hours
08/09 Dates: Start Time: Location:
December 17 6:30 PM Marmot Mountain Works - Berkeley
December 30 6:30 PM Bear Valley Lodge - Bear Valley (Only $10!)
January 14 6:30 PM Marmot Mountain Works - Berkeley
January 15 6:30 PM REI - Stockton
January 20 6:30 PM REI - Roseville
January 21 6:30 PM REI - Sacramento
January 22 6:30 PM REI - Folsom
More dates TBA    
Registration: telemark ONLINE REGISTRATION or call - (209) 753-6556 x 1
You can also pay at the door, space permitting.

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 course Avalanche Level I Seminar

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Learn essential skills for safe winter backcountry travel. During the first two days gain backcountry snow safety education with avalanche hazard evaluation, beacon use and rescue skills. Including an introduction to snowpack analysis and weather factors as they pertain to snow stability.

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" is also a great refresher progrom for Level I alumni looking for a refresher program.

Participants are able to attend the first 2 days then follow up with the Avalanche Skills Tour at a latter date during the same season and receive an AIARE Level I Certiciate.

avalanche education

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
Prices: 2 days:  $250 (includes course booklet & use of beacon, probe & shovel)
3 days:  $355 (includes Avalanche Skills Tour + AIARE Level I Certificate) + save $20
Location: Bear Valley, CA
Length: 2 & 3 days (3 consecutive days is recommended)
Prerequisites: Avalanche Lecture recommended
Meeting Time: 9 AM at the MAS office in Bear Valley
Dates 2008/2009: December: 20-22 (Sat-Mon)
January: 2-4 (Fri-Sun); 7-9 (Wed-Fri); 17-19 (Sat-Mon)
January 31-February 2 (Sat-Mon)
February 11-13 (Wed-Fri); 14-16 (Presidents Weekend)
February: 21-23 (Sat-Mon) new
March 14-16 (Sat-Mon)
March 28-30 (Sat-Mon) new
Registration: telemark ONLINE REGISTRATION or call - (209) 753-6556 x 1

 

avalanche course Ski/Board Avalanche Level I Seminar

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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 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.

Participants are able to attend the first 2 days then follow up with the Avalanche Skills Tour at a latter date during the same season and receive an AIARE Level I Certiciate.

avalanche

* - since this course utilizes the backcountry terrain surround the Bear Valley Mountain Resort, a lift ticket is required for day 2 (discounts lift ticket available).

"Our guide Michael McCarthy was well prepared and knew his material.  Overall he is a great instructor!  I enjoyed the time spent at the ski area looking at different terrain and picking safe travel routes.   Plus the skiing was awesome!"(January 2006)

More Course Info: PDF
Prices: 2 day:  $275 - includes course booklet & use of beacon, probe & shovel
$320 - with discounted lift ticket for day 2
3 day:  $375 - includes Avalanche Skills Tour + AIARE Level I Certificate + save $20
$420 - with discounted lift ticket for day 2
Location: Bear Valley, CA
Length: 2 or 3 days (3 days is recommended)
Prerequisites: • advanced ski and snowboard skills
avalanche lecture recommended
Meeting time & place: 9 AM at the MAS office in Bear Valley
2008/2009 Dates: January: 24-26, 2009 (Sat-Mon)
Registration: telemark ONLINE REGISTRATION or call - (209) 753-6556 x 1

 

avalanche rescue Avalanche Skills Tour

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Put your avalanche skills into action and solidify the Level I curriculum during this full day backcountry ski & snowshoe 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. avalanche
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: Level I Avalanche Seminar or equivalent
Dates 2008/2009: December 22, 2008 (Monday)
  January 5 (Monday); 19 (Monday - MLK Weekend); 31 (Saturday)
  February 16 (Monday - Presidents Weekend); 28 (Saturday)
  April 4
Registration: telemark ONLINE REGISTRATION or call - (209) 753-6556 x 1

avalanche rescue 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: $550
Length: 4 days
Location: Bear Valley, CA
Meeting Time: 8:30 AM at the MAS office in Bear Valley
Prerequisites: Level I Avalanche Course or equivalent
Dates 2010*: TBA
Registration: telemark ONLINE REGISTRATION or call - (209) 753-6556 x 1

* - MAS offers this progran every other year so next course is in Jan & Feb of 2010.

 

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