Avalanche Awareness Courses

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Enter your start date, end date and number of people and we will check availability and prices for you. The recommended duration for this activity is between 1 and 2 days. However, you can book as many days as suits your requirements. If your group size is more than 5 please contact us for a bespoke quote. Special prices for families and children: please contact us.

Highlights

Location : Ponte di Legno

Ratio : 1:5

Available during : Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Dec

Causes of avalanches
Understanding avalanche bulletins
Risk reduction
Effective use of transceivers, shovels and probes
Simple snow profiling exercises

Full Description

BASIC Course
This course is for people with no previous training in Avalanche Awareness. The one day programme is designed to give you a solid foundation of knowledge and skills, for you to build on in the future. Subjects covered include why avalanches occur, risk reduction, and simple rescue techniques including use of safety equipment. If you have the time we strongly recommend you also book the Avalanche Awareness ADVANCED Course for the following day.

ADVANCED Course
If you have already done a Avalanche Awareness BASIC course or have previous experience of Avalanche Awareness training, then this course will take you to the next level. Building on the skills you already have, you will become a safer off-piste skier and a more effective rescuer. We will start with the most important process in avoiding avalanches - by planning your day on the mountain. We will cross reference off-piste itineraries with a map, avalanche forecast and the weather forecast. This simple process is the most effective way of avoiding avalanches, but is seldom practised by off-piste enthusiasts. Understanding snow science, avalanche prediction, and multiple burial scenarios will give you the freedom to explore the whole mountain.

We are based in Ponte di Legno (1 hour drive from Madonna di Campiglio in the Brenta Dolomites) and have a cosy b&b in the centre of town. This is the ideal arrival and depature base. It is also the ideal base for day ski tours to the Brenta Dolomites, Adamello range and Stelvio national Park. We will be happy to create a tailor made ski touring trip for you.

Example Itinerary

It is for you and your guide to decide the exact makeup of your booking however, these itinerary days shown below are an example of how a booking for this activity could be structured.

Day 1 : Avalanche Awareness BASIC course

We pack a lot into this one day course in order to give you a solid platform that you can build on in the future. The course will cover the following: - Causes of avalanches - Understanding avalanche bulletins - Route planning in avalanche terrain - Reading the signs identifying clues as to potential hazards - Risk reduction - Safer travel techniques - What to do if caught in an avalanche - Effective use of transceivers, shovels and probes - Organising a simple rescue

Day 2 : Avalanche Awareness ADVANCED course

Building on the foundation of knowledge you already have, this one day course will take you to the next level. You will learn how to assess risks for yourself, and make effective route finding decisions. The course will cover the following: - Planning a day using off-piste guidebooks, maps, and the avalanche forecast. - Identification of avalanche terrain - Snow science (including the formation of the snow pack) - Influence of the weather and terrain - Simple snow profiling exercises - Safer travel techniques - Realistic multiple burial rescue scenarios - Organising complex rescues

What's Included

Services of IFMGA Mountain Guide
Liability insurance

What's Not Included

All food  and drinks for clients and guides
Travel, accident and cancellation insurance for clients
Hut costs for clients and Guides
Guides travel expences
Cable cars and ski lifts for clients and guides

Optional Extras

Accommodation (more info)
Transfers (more info)
Ski touring equipment  (more info)

Prerequisites

For skiers who want to venture further away from the pistes and learn about the safety aspects of the mountains in Winter. You should be able to ski on black runs, on all types of snow and be fit enough to walk up hill at altitude for 2-3 hours. On all our programs snowboarders and telemarkers are welcome.

Equipment Required

Technical equipment (these items can be rented): ski touring skis, ski touring boots, climbing skins, ski crampons, backpack, poles, avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe. Splitboard for snowboarders.

Personal equipment: provisions for during the day (energy bars, chocolate, dried fruit, sandwiches), first aid kit, sun glasses (protection factor 3 or 4), goggles, gore-tex jacket and overpants, windstopper vest, ski touring pants, fleece jacket, breathable base layers, lightweight gloves, thick gloves or mittens, wool hat, bandana, sun screen factor 50.

Availability & Prices

This activity is available to be booked for any date/dates within the availablity periods shown below. Because we tailor your booking to suit your exact requirements you can book this activity for as many days as you like. The recommended duration for this activity is between 1 and 2 days. If your group size is more than 5 please contact us for a bespoke quote. Special prices for families and children: please contact us.

Period	Starting	Ending
Availability period	from : 01/12/2024	to : 30/04/2025

Number of people	Price (€)
1 Pax	€350.00 per person per day
2 Pax	€175.00 per person per day
3 Pax	€133.33 per person per day
4 Pax	€112.50 per person per day
5 Pax	€100.00 per person per day

Avalanche Awareness Courses Reviews

Learning experience

"Thank you Cain, it was a great trip. Unfortunately, I didn't participate on the ski safety day, but the students and one colleague were very happy. Everyone had a good and learning experience. I expect that we will go to Passo Tonale again next year and would like to use your services again."

Hans