Avalanche Standard Level 1 Course at Pajarito Mountain

Avalanche Standard Level 1 Course at Pajarito Mountain, NM February 21-24, 2013 Taught by
Pajarito Mountain Ski Patrol
Are you a backcountry traveler that wishes to learn how to navigate avalanche terrain, or to rescue your partner should they be caught in an avalanche?  Are you a ski patroller desiring avalanche education, whether for application in the line of duty or for personal recreation in the backcountry?  If so, then this course is for you.
Some of the best winter recreational locales in northern NM are situated amidst avalanche terrain.  If you venture into the backcountry during snow seasons, it is a very good idea to take an avalanche course.
This National Ski Patrol (NSP) Avalanche Level 1 course conforms to the curriculum of the American Avalanche Association (AAA), and includes both classroom lectures and on-the-snow field exercises, including the following topics:

• Avalanche triangle:  terrain, snowpack, weather
• Beacon search, shoveling, and probing
• Safe travel in avalanche terrain
• Practical in-the-field snowpack stability evaluation methods
• Immediate search for buried victims
• Human factor

The class will be taught by Bart Daly, an NSP Alpine Senior Patroller and certified Avalanche Level 1 instructor, with help from several other Level 1 and Level 2 avalanche-trained patrollers who have extensive backcountry ski/travel experience.
Course schedule (all to be held at Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, NM):
Thu., Feb. 21, 6-9:30pm:  classroom
Fri., Feb. 22, 6-9:30pm:  classroom
Sat., Feb. 23, 8:30-3:30pm:  field sessions (outdoors all day)
Sun., Feb. 24, 8:30-3:00pm:  field sessions (outdoors all day)
Course requirements:  A good level of fitness and the ability to ski and move around in deep snow and steep terrain.  You should show up to the field sessions booted up and ready to ski.  You will need to bring a beacon, shovel, and probe, and be prepared to be outdoors (snow or shine) the entire day.  Lift rides to field exercise locations will be included as part of the course registration.  If you do not own beacon/shovel/probe, please acquire or borrow them from friends ahead of time.  As a last resort, we have a few loaners on hand, but their availability cannot be guaranteed.
“Pre-work”:  Upon enrollment, we will make arrangements to get you a copy of Snow Sense 5th edition by Fredston & Fesler (included in the course fee), which you will use to complete a written assignment.  The assignment must be completed and brought to the first classroom session.
Enrollment instructions:  The course slots will be allotted to roughly 50-50% between patrollers and members of the community, first-come first-served according to the date of receipt of the $50 course enrollment fee, which includes the Snow Sense book, lift privileges on the field session days, and an NSP certificate of course completion.
Please contact Bart Daly at: bdaly77@msn.com  to enroll and with any additional questions.