Winter Trip Planning - Basic Backcountry Preparedness

LEARN / PRACTICE PLANNING YOUR WINTER BACKCOUNTRY ACTIVITIES USING AVALANCHE FORECAST, HELPING YOU TO CHOOSE SAFER ROUTE TO YOUR DESTINATION USING DIGITAL MAPPING TOOLS LIKE CALTOPO.

REGISTERING FOR THIS COURSE ALLOWS YOU TO TAKE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING AT YOUR OWN PACE:
(1) AVALANCHE AWARENESS (E-LEARNING COURSE)
(2) WINTER TRIP PLANNING (E-LEARNING COURSE), INCLUDES ONLINE MENTORING SESSIONS VIA ZOOM AS NEEDED ON MAPPING TOOLS AND DOCUMENTING YOUR PLANS
(3) INTRODUCTION TO AVALANCHE RESCUE (IN-PERSON AT SNOQUALMIE PASS, OPTIONAL TO GRADUATE FROM THIS COURSE AND IS SCHEDULED ONCE A MONTH FROM DEC THRU FEB. ONLY LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE)

HAVING ACCESS TO A LAPTOP, INTERNET, AND BASIC USE OF THE SAME IS A MUST TO TAKE THIS COURSE.

CAUTIONARY NOTES:

(1) WHEN TRAVELING IN AND OUT OF AVALANCHE TERRAIN, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND TAKING THE FORMAL AIARE'S AVALANCHE LEVEL 1 COURSE AND/OR AVALANCHE RESCUE COURSE. CLICK THE BLUE TEXT TO SEE THE COURSE LISTINGS OFFERED BY THE MOUNTAINEERS.

(2) CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT RECOMMENDED PROGRESSION FOR OUR BELOVED WINTER RECREATIONISTS TO DEVELOP THEIR PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING SKILLS AND SEE IF THIS COURSE FITS FOR YOU. 

PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE COURSE LEADER AT KRISHNA.DASE@GMAIL.COM IF YOU ENCOUNTER ANY ISSUES OR NEED HELP TO PROGRESS WITH THE ONLINE MATERIAL.

COURSE ACCESS AND OUTLINE:

• This eLearning course takes about 16-20 hours to complete. So, do not wait :-)
• You can find the sign-up and login instructions in the Course Materials section.

• Online Course Outline/Modules:
  • Avalanche Awareness
  • Intro to Mapping Tools
  • Interpreting Avalanche Forecast
  • Anticipating Snow Conditions & Gear Needs
  • Developing a Trip Plan
  • Trip Planning Exercise (Documentation & Caltopo example run-through)
  • Executing Trip Plan & Considerations
  • One Assignment (submission of trip plan and link to your intended route on Caltopo/GAIA GPS)
• The assignment will be reviewed by the course leader. 
Please allow about two weeks to receive any feedback. Assignments will not be reviewed in the months of May through November. Reach out to the course leader to request expediting this process, if needed.