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Into the Classroom- Getting Started Backcountry Skiing Part 2 | Boulder, CO United States | 04/21/09, by Goooompz

We all started backcountry skiing somewhere, somehow.  Perhaps you haven't started yet?  Or perhaps you know someone who is interested, but doesn't know where to begin.  Well, the best way to jump into the world of backcountry skiing is to take an avalanche safety class.  Alpine World Ascents in Boulder Colorado was nice enough to  to send a Skiing the Backcountry novice backcountry skier to their AIRE accredited Level 1 Avalanche Class. Click here to read his first journal entry.  Part 2 continues below:

Classroom Day 1
I turned the corner and began walking down the hallway towards the room Alpine World Ascents had chosen for the avalanche course and I couldn't be happier with what I saw.  All kinds of people-students, adults, ski bums, businessmen, quite, and outgoing- were gathered around waiting for the instructors to arrive.  Everybody seemed excited and anxious to begin this informative and precautionary course.  The first thing I realized was this wasn't a class for the old and cautious or the young and adventurous, but for everyone and anyone with a passion for the winter sports.  We were united by a common goal: to be responsible about playing on the peaks Mother Nature bestowed upon our planet.

Markus Beck, the instructor of the course, arrived with two other guides: Tim and Mark.  They did a fantastic job informing us about what we would be learning throughout the course before allowing us to introduce ourselves and get to know one another.  Once the ice had been broken we dove straight into lecture.  While the material was new to many of us, Markus and his colleagues did a great job of explaining and interpreting it for the class. 

They assured us avalanche safety is a problem that they will help us tackle.  By the end of the first night, I was certain about two things: Markus and his guides were extremely knowledgeable, and they would teach about avalanche safety in a fun and relaxed environment.  I left the classroom shocked at the avalanche dangers I had flirted with on the various terrain I had skied, but confident this course would teach me immense knowledge and grant me great skill.






Classroom Day 2
Because we now possessed basic knowledge of avalanche danger, risk, and prevention, day two involved more technical terms and in-depth descriptions of the details of avalanches.  We learned how to assess avalanche danger on any given day and under any conditions.  As a class we analyzed case studies and were forced to use our recently acquired knowledge to assess unique and exemplary situations. 

Mark explained different types of snow pack, how they are formed, and the correlation of each to heightened avalanche danger.  Tim discussed variable instability in types of snow pack across the country and continent.  He also talked about metamorphosis and other factors within the snow that causes slabs to weaken and separate from others. 

Markus emphasized potentially the most hazardous avalanche factor of all, the human factor.  One can prepare for an avalanche in every way but if he isn't reasonable, know his limits, or follow his plan, he is likely to become avalanche fodder. 

This second session has allowed me to feel comfortable when thinking about handling an avalanche and confident in taking precautionary measures.  However, I'm now aware of the immense risk backcountry skiers take every time they enter the backcountry.  Most of the backcountry skiing I've seen looks technical, but I had no idea how much caution and preparation is exerted each time these veteran skiers venture on a tour.

Any advice for new backcountry skiers?  Share your thoughts in the comments below...