Avalanche Centre
......................................................................................av·a·lanche 
P Pronunciation Key (
v
-l
nch
)n.
- A fall or slide of a large mass, as of snow or rock, down a mountainside.
- A massive or overwhelming amount; a flood: received an avalanche of mail.
AVALANCHE AWARENESS COURSES
Interested in learning about Avalanche Awareness? This one-day introductory course is a great place to start.
Instruction starts in the classroom and then moves out onto the mountain where you will learn how to recognize avalanche hazards, basic technique for transceiver use and how to dig and understand a snow pit.
This course is a recommended pre-requisite for the Avalanche Skills Training Course for those with no previous Avalanche Awareness.
Come equipped with your skis/board. Avalanche gear is not mandatory.
Sign up at the Guest Services Desk at the mountain, in the downtown office, or call 250-354-4944.
Dates:
- December 31, 2011
- January 14, 2012
- February 4, 2012
- March 10, 2012
Price: $35.00
AVALANCHE SKILLS TRAINING
This 3-day course, recognized by the Canadian Avalanche Association, is highly recommended for anyone interested in backcountry travel. The course is also a pre-requisite for the CAA level 1 avalanche course.
Topics covered in the course include steps on how to plan and carry out a trip, avalanche terrain recognition, terrain analysis and safe travel techniques, snow pack structure and avalanche rescue procedures.
The first evening of the course is spent indoors in a location in downtown Nelson, and runs from 5:00pm-9:00pm. The following two days are spent outside in the field, up at Whitewater Ski Resort. Expect to be outside all day (9:00am-4:00pm) while undergoing moderate activity.
Participants must have: Avalanche transceiver, probe & shovel, touring bindings (ie Alpine Trekkers/Fritschi Touring bindings), climbing skins or snowshoes for snowboarders, collapsible poles. This equipment can be rented at Whitewater (make sure you pre-book and get fitted at the rental shop before the start of the course.)
It is mandatory that participants 16 years or younger also take the 1day Whitewater Avalanche Awareness course AND receive prior approval of the lead instructor. If participants 17 years or older do not have any backcountry experience, then the avalanche awareness course is highly recommended.
Sign up at the Guest Services Desk at the mountain, in the downtown office, or call 250-354-4944.
Dates:
- January 6th - 8th, 2012
- January 20th -22nd, 2012
- February 10th - 12th, 2012
- March 16th - 18th, 2012
Price: $185.00 *Includes Backcountry Avalanche Awareness book (put out by the Canadian Avalanche Centre)
Avalanche Awareness Beyond the Boundaries Society (AABBS)
In the Kootenays we have access to and enjoy a number of recreational pursuits outside the boundaries of the local ski resorts. An increasing number of teens are joining the numbers of skiers, snowboarders, snowmobile riders and climbers that venture out beyond the boundaries into the backcountry during the winter season. A majority of these teens have been made aware of the risks and hazards involved with traveling out to the backcountry, but lack the ability to assess safe routes, to avoid avalanches and do not possess the skills required to rescue a friend that may have been buried in an avalanche.
Avalanche Awareness Beyond the Boundaries (AABBS) is a non for profit society newly formed to provide free Avalanche Skills Training to youth between the ages of 13 – 18 in the Kootenays. These safety courses will follow the curriculum established by the Canadian Avalanche Association and be taught by qualified
instructors. The normal charge for an AST course is around the $200.00 mark. Our goal is to offer these 3 day courses throughout the region, free of charge, to interested teens starting in the winter of 2010. There was a free course last season that sold out in a number of days proving that there is a need and
interest among the target age group.
Whitewater is proud to support AABBS. To donate, or to see if you qualify for a free Avalanche Awareness Course or Avalanche Skills Training Course, please contact our office at 250.354.4944.
There will be 2 courses running this year. They are both 4 day courses that combine what was previously a 1 day Awareness and 3 days of Avalanche Skills Training (AST).
The dates of these courses are:
Course 1
Wednesday, December 14th (evening 6-9pm at the Chamber of Commerce)
Saturday, December 17th (half day field session at WH20 & 6-9pm theory session at Chamber of Commerce)
Sunday, December 18th and Monday, December 19th (full field days at WH20 and area)
Course 2
Friday, January 6th (evening 6-9pm at the Chamber of Commerce)
Saturday, January 7th (half day session at WH20 & 6-9pm theory session at Chamber of Commerce)
Saturday, January 14th and Sunday, January 15th (full field days at WH20 and area)
***NOTE: This is a free course for youth with limited capacity.
Registration is on a first come, first serve basis.
........................................................................."I've been skiing at Whitewater since it opened in the 70's and I never get tired of the world famous snow. If you're looking for a friendly mountain with a big heart than this place is for you. " Anonymous
