| | Searching Current Courses For Fall 2016 |
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Course: |
OUT 169
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Title: | Avalanche Awareness Level II |
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Long Title: | Avalanche Awareness Level II |
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Course Description: | Enhances students understanding of snow and avalanche phenomena, hazard eveluation, rescue, avalanche forecasting and avalanche hazard mitigation. Students will receive a certificate of completion stating that the course was taught following the guidelines of the American Avalanche Association. |
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Min Credit: | 2 |
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Max Credit: | |
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Status Notes: | Was PER 154, changed 1/21/13 effective 201410 CFE |
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STANDARD COMPETENCIES:
I. Understand variability and complexity of avalanche terrain
II. Identify grain types and the basic physical processes leading to them
III. Perform and interpret common stability tests
IV. Apply objective decision making methods while traveling through avalanche terrain.
V.
TOPICAL OUTLINE:
I. Avalanche Phenomenon
A. Loose snow avalanches
B. Slab avalanches- soft and hard
C. Wet snow avalanches
II. Avalanche hazard ratings
A. Release mechanisms
B. Point releases
C. Slab releases
a. Strength versus stress
b. Strain and strain rates
c. Failure/fracture
d. Shear/tensile
e. Deficit zones
III. Weather
A. Orographic and convective precipitation
B. Wind effects
C. Local topographic effects
D. Temperature effects
E. Seasonal development of the snowpack
F. Recent and current weather& how is it affecting the snowpack now?
G. Forecasted weather & how will it affect current conditions?
H. Contributory factors with regional dependence on factors
IV. Snow in the Atmosphere
A. Basic forms
B. Riming
C. Surface hoar
V. Development of the Snowpack
A. Basic definitions
B. Depth
C. Density
D. Temperature gradient
E. Formation of bonds
VI. Energy balance of the snowpack
A. Short wave radiation
B. Long wave radiation
C. Ground heat flux
D. Aspect/elevation/regional effects
E. Initial metamorphism
1. Change of atmospheric forms on the Earth¿s surface
F. Equilibrium processes
a. Rounding
b. Bonding
G. Kinetic processes
1. Critical temperature gradient
2. Squares/facets
3. Depth hoar
4. Near-surface faceted growth
5. Shear strength versus compressive strength
H. Melt/Freeze
1. Isothermal snowpack
2. Melting bonds
I. Mountain snowpack development
J. Layering
K. Weak layers
1. Depth hoar, surface hoar, near-surface faceted grains
2. Persistence in the snowpack
3. Strong layers
4. Bed surfaces, slabs, crusts, ice lenses
L. Changes in time and space
1. Short-term and seasonal changes
2. Local and regional scales
3. Typical scenarios and notable exceptions
VII. Terrain Analysis
A. Basic topography review
1. Slope angle
2. Staring zone, track, runout zone
3. Vegetation
B. Identification of avalanche terrain and safe terrain
1. Summer and winter evidence
C. Seasonal dependence & winter versus spring
D. Regional dependence & continental, intermountain, maritime climates
VIII. Stability Evaluation
A. Snowpack
B. Field observations
1. Snow hasty pits/data pits
2. Observed activity
C. Terrain
1. Is it steep enough to slide?
IX. Human Factors and Risk Assessment
A. Definitions of risk, hazard and perception
B. Individual behavior
C. Effects of experience, equipment and training
D. Group behavior
a. Small groups & 2 to 4 members
b. Large groups & 5+ members
E. Attitudes and behavior that affects risk perception and risk-taking
F. Managing risk
G. Typical scenarios that can lead to problems
H. What to do to prevent problems
X Decision Making
A. Applying stability evaluation
B. Effective use of terrain
C. Avoiding dangerous areas
D. Minimizing exposure
E. Applying effective decision methodology
a. (e.g. red, yellow, green light days or 3x3 method)
F. Communication
G. Dynamic process & need for continual re-evaluation
H. Scenarios and case studies & big mistakes with alternative solutions
XI. Backcountry decision exercise & group effort
A. Rescue
B. Self-rescue
C. What to do if you are caught
D. Companion rescue
E. What to do if someone else is caught
XII. Beacons
A. Recovery versus rescue
B. How they work &conventional and digital display
C. Basic search techniques
1. Grid, induction, digital; Initial search; Tangent and/or grid search;
2. Multiple victim search techniques; Survival statistics
XIII. Field Session to Include:
XIV. Full Data Pits
A. Stratigraphy
B. Grain type and bonds
C. Temperature - temperature gradients
D. Strength/stability tests
1. Stitchplate
2. densities
E. Data Collection and Recording & field notes
XV. Hasty Pits
A. Identification of weak layers
B. Strength tests
C. Hand hardness
D. Shovel shear
E. Rutschblock
F. Stuffblock
G. Tap (compression) test
H. Others
XVI. Terrain Analysis
A. Backcountry Travel Awareness - tests on the move
B. Observation of red flags & fractures, whumping, ski pole penetration, etc.
C. Safe Travel Techniques
D. Continual Re-evaluation of Situation/Hazard
XVII. Beacon Practice & including multiple
XVIII. Full Rescue Scenario
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