Level 1 Mechanized Guide Course
Location: Alta, Utah
Dates: January 7th - January 14th, 2012
Cost: $1,995
Register Online
This seven day, 80-hour course is designed for current and aspiring mechanized mountain guides, ski patrollers, ski instructors, avalanche control specialists and rescue personnel. In keeping with H2O’s policy of being inclusive rather than exclusive, this course is not only for mountain professionals, but also for any serious mountain enthusiast looking to take their skills to the next level. During this course you will gain hands on experience performing multi burial scenarios, guiding from the top down using a snow cat and helicopter, high angle rescue, and lift extraction. All topics involve a blend of classroom time, scenario-based field exercises, and hands-on experience with helicopters, snow-cats, snowmobiles and ski lifts. Upon successful completion of this course participants will receive an American Mechanized Ski Guide I certificate.
By the end of this course participants shouild be able to:
- Understand the variability and complexity of avalanches in mechanically accessed skiing and riding terrain.
- Identify grain types and the processes leading to their formation, and begin to understand how they relate to group management in avalanche terrain.
- Perform, interpret, and record common stability tests.
- Apply objective decision making methods while traveling through avalanche terrain during lift, snow cat or helicopter accessed ski operations.
- Understand the capabilities and limitations of helicopters, snow cats and lifts for accessing ski terrain.
- Understand all aspects of supporting helicopter or snow-cat activities from a base of operations, including fueling, communications and rescue coordination.
- Understand all aspects of aircraft operations for accessing mountainous terrain including aircraft configurations, landing and pickup zones, and safe loading and unloading procedures.
- Understand the concept of "guiding from the top down" in big mountain terrain.
- Understand the fundamentals of big mountain rescue including both high angle and avalanche rescue.
- Understand the basic aspects of professional guiding including client care and communication, ethics, appearance, guide well-being and liability.
