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LEVEL 2
Continue your Avalanche Education
Course Description
The Level 2 is a three-day/24-hour course that provides backcountry travelers an opportunity to advance their decision making skills in more complicated situations such as being a leader within a small travel group, traveling in more complicated terrain, and/or developing a travel plan where resources are scarce.
The Level 2 builds on the introductory avalanche hazard management model introduced in the Level 1 and adds to it the evaluation of critical hazard assessment factors. Students will describe and discuss weather, snowpack and avalanche processes, and identify how these processes relate to observations and travel within avalanche terrain.
Who Should Take this Course
The Level 2 is a three-day course for those who have taken an Level 1 and Avalanche Rescue and have had at least a year of backcountry travel experience. The Level 2 provides backcountry leaders the opportunity to advance their avalanche knowledge and decision making skills.
Student Learning Outcomes
At the end of the Level 2 course, the student should be able to:
- Differentiate where specific avalanche hazards exist within the landscape and identify avalanche terrain where consequences may be more severe.
- Use and interpret weather, snow, and avalanche observations to locate appropriate terrain prior to entering and while in the field.
- Demonstrate leadership skills within a small team that include facilitating small group discussion, promoting appropriate terrain selection, and utilizing simple risk management strategies.
- Implement a basic forecasting framework that can be used in conjunction with and in the absences of local supporting avalanche information.
Prerequisites
- Participants must have the ability to travel in avalanche terrain.
- An Level 1 Course (strongly recommended) or equivalent Level 1 training is a requirement.
- A winter of practical experience after the Level 1 course is a requirement before taking the Level 2 course.
- AIARE or AAA approved one-day Avalanche Rescue Course.
