Basic course avalanches
First info...
The most important question in relation to avalanches that all touring, freeriding or snowshoeing enthusiasts ask themselves is GO or NO GO!
On these two days we will show you all the decision-making basics and tools to answer this vital question. Benefit from Hermanns' enormous experience and let him show you how he uses it to travel safely in winter. In the exciting theory section on the morning of the first day of the avalanche course in Switzerland, we talk about the basics of avalanche risk assessment, tour planning and dealing with risk on tour.
In the afternoon we will be outside and will explain the contents in a vivid way. In addition to examining the snow profile and analyzing the structure of the snow cover, we will look for the alarm signs, slope and terrain that cause unfavorable conditions for snowboards to form at all. This chapter is complex and the basis for safe application for the 3 x 3 reduction method, the graphic reduction method or other tools as decision support. We will devote almost the entire 2nd day to this topic. Elements of the platform www.whiterisk.ch of the SLF provide plastic models and support us.
Of course we will deepen the handling of avalanche transceivers, shovels and probes during a realistic rescue exercise. Have you ever tried to breathe buried in the snow? Varied terrain, interspersed with small hollows and steep rocky slopes, provides excitement.
Even if you don't have decades of experience, this course will provide you with a tool that will give you more security and transparency in making risk assessment decisions on your tours in the future.
BERIE Plus points
- perfect practice area and touring area
- Training and guidance by professional mountain/ski guide UIAGM and area expert Hermann Berie
- Exciting transfer of complex knowledge
- Theoretical part and practice on the topic of avalanche prevention
- Detection of alarm signals in the field
- Snow and snow cover analysis
- Training of the most important tools for risk assessment on tour
- Rescue Exercises
- Recognizing where our limits lie and applying the reduction methods
- Certificate of completion of the course
18.12.2021 - 19.12.2021
including half board / 1 x overnight stay in shared room Berghaus Sulzfluh
2 days training and instruction in theory and practice with certified mountain and ski guide UIAGM,
Member of the Swiss Mountain Guide Association SBV
Course documentation
1 x night + half board, shared room
Double room/single room subject to availability at extra charge
4 - 8 participants/mountain guide
1st day: Welcome at 9:30 am in St.Antönien-Platz in the Hotel Madrisajoch for a meeting.
In the morning we will deal with the basics in an exciting presentation in the seminar room:
- Types of avalanches and their origin
- Types of snow and their risks
- avalanche-inducing factors
- Recognizing potential dangers in the avalanche bulletin
- the reduction methods 3 x 3 and graphise method
- the WhiteRisk model from SLF Davos
- Route planning for avalanche prevention
- Getting to know the LVS/avalanche buried search device
In the afternoon we are on a first short application tour and examine the snow cover.
- Dig and evaluate snow profile
- identify critical layers in the profile
- Slip block test
- Exercises with the avalanche transceiver, handling the shovel and probe when searching for buried subjects.
- Intensive realistic rescue exercise
- Single and multiple burials
Meeting in the evening at the hotel/mountain house after dinner. Tour planning for day 2. overnight stay.
2nd day: Breakfast and the rest of the tour planning according to the new conditions of this day.
- Application of risk management on a tour
- practical application of the reduction method: Go or not to Go!
- Recognition of alarm signals and avalanche forming factors in snow (factor wind!)
- Terrain assessment, route selection, slope exposure Recognition and measurement of slope inclination
- safe route selection and track layout for ascent and descent (descent)
Final briefing at the hotel around 4:00. We're going home.
