Learn to Read the Story of the Backcountry

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Join us for 3 full days of in-person, hands on instruction. We value avalanche education and do not use pre-recorded videos and zoom sessions in place of in-person learning on day 1.

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The backcountry is always telling us a story–are you listening? Reading winter’s narrative written across mountain slopes by avoiding avalanches and finding the best snow, is both a learned skill and a practiced art. 

Silverton Avalanche School’s Recreational Level One Avalanche Course introduces backcountry skiers and snowboarders to ways to ritualize planning, observations and assessments, and highlights the critical importance of “Reading the Story of Winter” each and every day to minimize risk when traveling in the mountains. 

In SAS’s three day Recreational Level One, students will engage in hands-on curriculum designed to develop an understanding and application of tools to help navigate or avoid avalanche terrain.  

Our curriculum is based on national guidelines published by the American Avalanche Association, and covers the following topics and more:

• Using a SAS field book to ritualize the planning process.
• The Avalanche Triangle; understanding the interplay of snowpack, weather, terrain and YOU.
• Understanding and applying the avalanche and weather forecast.
• Avalanche rescue introduction and a deep dive into rescue tools.
• Using digital mapping platforms to plan and execute a backcountry tour.
• Applying knowledge of where avalanches occur to macro and micro scale terrain.
• Field observations and tracking critical changes.
• Human dynamics and avoiding heuristic traps.
• Fundamentals of backcountry movement.
• Time planning and emergency resources.

Course Outline

Day One: Meet in the classroom at 8 a.m. and begin with a participation-forward classroom session, with an intro to avalanches, weather and the human factor. Head out mid-day to practice avalanche rescue.

Day Two: Meet in the classroom at 8 a.m. Deep dive into forecast resources, incident review and digital mapping, all while utilizing the SAS field book. Go on a backcountry tour with the goal of getting some field observations of weather, snowpack and terrain.

Day Three: Meet in the classroom at 8 a.m. Short session to finalize student-led tours in groups. Then–go skiing! The course will end with a 4-6 hour backcountry tour and a course debrief by 4-4:30 p.m.

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For the 25/26 season we will be requiring all public course students to be skiers/splitboarders. If you are a snowshoer looking for a Rec-1 education give us a call and we can discuss options. 

Give us a call if you would like to set up a private course for your group.

Note: KMAC Guides is a member of the SAS COURSE PROVIDER Alliance, offering Avalanche Education,  Backcountry Instruction and Rescue Training.