Avalanche Terrain Avoidance Lecture & Field Day

Field trip: Avalanche Terrain Avoidance

Avalanche Terrain Avoidance Lecture & Field Day – Course Venue TBA

The Avalanche Terrain Avoidance course teaches you to recognize when and where avalanche danger may exist. More importantly, how to avoid it. Sources of information and methods for planning routes free from avalanche danger. This course requires no prerequisites. Participating in the field exercises is required to earn the ATA badge.

  • Sat, Feb 15, 2025
  • Denver
  • Avalanche Education
  • Adults
  • For Beginners (Getting Started Series)
  • Pace: 1-2

Meeting time and place TBA. 

This single day courses consists of 2 parts: 

  1. Morning session will be a classroom lecture. Be ready for a 3 to 4-hour lecture where you will learn and review different avalanche terrain risks. 
  2. Next is a 3 to 4 hour session in the field. The field portion of the course is immediately after the morning lecture. In the field, the students will observe terrain and make travel decisions based on the planned route, and travel adjustments in the field in avoiding exposure to avalanche terrain. We'll use slope meters to identify potential avalanche terrain to avoid as we travel through non-avalanche terrain. These techniques can be taught with or without snow conditions.

Our Learning Objectives & Outcomes 

  • Understand why Colorado has the most dangerous avalanche conditions in the US
  • Learn what an avalanche is and what factors contribute to an avalanche
  • Understand and apply current avalanche forecast
  • Recognize & avoid avalanche hazards
  • Use tools for planning a successful trip
  • Learn from case studies of  avalanche accidents

Badges

Route/Place
Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

Ten Essentials

Layering for winter weather at elevation

Bring your snowshoe equipment to class.  We will depart directly from class to the field.

Trip Reports