Avalanche Education
NSP Level 1 Avalanche (Hybrid) – Fall/Winter 2023-2024
Hyak Patrol in cooperation with King County Ski Patrol and Rescue (SPART) will be offering NSP Level 1 Avalanche course as a Hybrid course in the Fall/Winter of 2023-2024.
NSP Level 1 Avalanche covers all of the Learning Outcomes and Core Curriculum Content for Recreational Level 1 Avalanche Training described by the American Avalanche Association. It includes all the same training one would get from completing both Rec Level 1 & Companion Rescue, it also includes additional material specific to rescue personnel like Organized Rescue techniques.
The course is open to:
- NSP members from any area or patrol, candidate, active, associate, or alumni
- non-NSP members who are active in local Search and Rescue units
Registration
Sign up on nsp.org:
- Non-NSP members can sign up on nsp.org’s Center for Learning after creating a free account on nsp.org.
- courses: Using the nsp.org > Center for Learning >
- Avalanche Level 1 Module 1 – Classroom Avalanche Foundations
- Avalanche Level 1 Module 2 – Avalanche Safety and Rescue Skills
- Avalanche Level 1 Module 3 – Organized Avalanche Rescue
- filter for “Hyak Ski Patrol”
Pay for the class
Use this Buy Now button below to pay for the class.
Contact brad.hefta-gaub@kcspart.org for more information.
Class Details
This will be a hybrid course including:
- Live Zoom meetings for class orientation/kick-off, and weekly Q&A sessions
- Online classes from November 14th, 2023 – December 12th, 2023
- Online material covering classroom topics
- A passing grade on a online/written test is required for attendance of field days
- 2 full day In person field sessions
- Field Sessions weather dependent on January 13th/14th, 2024 or February 3th/4th, 2024
This course will cover:
- Module 1: Avalanche Foundations
- Topic 1: Avalanche Classification and Nomenclature
- Topic 2: The Avalanche Triangle
- Topic 2A: Weather Factors
- Topic 2B: Snowpack
- Topic 2C: Terrain
- Topic 3: Instability and Avalanche Release
- Topic 4: Human Factors
- Topic 5: Personal Safety
- Topic 5A: Principles of Safe Travel
- Topic 5B: Travel Planning and Preparation
- Topic 5C: Decision Making in the Field
- Topic 6: Rescue Principles
- Topic 6A: Escape and Survival
- Topic 6B: Companion Rescue
- Module 2: Field Skills
- Weather Observations
- Terrain Evaluation
- Route Selection and Safe Travel Practices
- Snowpack Observations
- Tests and Instability Evaluation
- Hazard Evaluation and Decision Tools
- Integrated Field Exercises
- Companion Rescue
- Module 3: Organized Avalanche Rescue
- Topic 1: Principles of Organized Rescue
- Topic 2: Avalanche Rescue Plans
- Topic 3: Rescue in Different Settings and Common Mistakes
- Topic 4: Personnel Safety in Rescue Operations
- Topic 5: Emergency Care for Avalanche Victims
- Field Activity 1: Transceiver Search
- Field Activity 2: Formal Probe Lines
- Field Activity 3: Rescue Route Finding
- Field Activity 4: Organized Rescue Simulation