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February 07, 2003

Avalanche 1

I've just completed an Avalanche 1 course and it was very amazing. It was 3 days long with half the first two days dedicated to classroom work and the rest of the first 2 days along with the entire 3rd day devoted to field work. The class was extremely educational. Now that I know many times what I knew, I realize how little I know. Avalanches are mysterious and scientific at the same time. There are no absolutes, only probabilities. We learned about the different types of avalanches, their characteristics, and how knowing the type of avalanche will help in searches for victims.
We learned about how snow gets layered through a myriad environmental factors as well as some various types of snow grains and what that tells you. We also learned about Avalanche victim search and rescue. We spent a lot of time doing searches with avalanche beacons. We worked on how to organize and carry out a search, probing technique, and dealing with multiple burials including scenarios where victims did not have beacons.
Finally, we worked on how to dig proper snow pits, check for layering, and perform specific scientific tests on how the layers are bonding and whether their bonds will fail or not. We learned the shovel compression test, the rocheblock test, and the schreadblock test. It was an amazing course which just begins to open my eyes to the features of avalanches and how to be safe. I definitely have to read more and, most importantly, practice the techniques they taught until I am comfortable and confident with them.

I've been thinking some more about the idea of becoming a guide. I'm still at the same point, where I believe I should head down the path of learning as much about mountaineering as possible, and if and when I get the adequate skills and experience, I will consider it seriously then.
I've also been having a disturbing thought about whether I really want to be a manager at P3 next season. Its a lot more work and responsibility, with little additional reward. Most of all, getting time off, and/or getting others to cover or trade shifts is a huge pain. Namely because there are only 3 real key people in the store and one of them has to be there at all times. I'm worried that this schedule rigidity will affect my training next year, again with little reward. We'll see though, its a decision that can't be made lightly.

Posted by wonko at February 7, 2003 09:09 PM

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