Avalanche Level 1 in Cooke City

Come spend three days taking our Avalanche Level 1 course at the Woody Creek Cabin the Absaroka Range just above Cooke City, MT. Located just below the treeline, it’s a great place to learn about terrain and snowpack.

Going into the backcountry is easy and fun. Making safe decisions aren’t always straightforward when you’re in the field. A fundamental part of any backcountry adventurer’s toolkit is avalanche awareness.

During the three-day course, participants will be exposed to techniques and skills required to be a competent backcountry partner. Each day will include a combination of lectures and field sessions. Students will get plenty of hands on experience learning about:

• Snowpack layering and formation
• Snowpack tests and other observations and how they relate to avalanche forecast
• Terrain Identification (avalanche paths, slope shape, aspect, slope angle)
• Terrain management (uphill and downhill travel)
• Mountain Weather Concepts (wind, precipitation, temperatures)
• Snow climates
• Avalanche types and concepts
• Decision making skills
• Interpreting the Avalanche Bulletin (hazard rating and type)
• Beacon use and rescue training
• Skiing some powder!

Prerequisites for avalanche education

All participants need to be comfortable making ascents and descents in a variety of snow conditions.

We also recommend reading

• Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper
• Snow Sense by Doug Fesler and Jill Fredston

All of our coursework is based on the guidelines of the American Avalanche Association.

• For a complete syllabus, click here.