Got questions?  Contact Jeff Pierce - pierce_group@msn.com (626) 374-2451
Limited Enrollment ~ Senior Candidates and ProPatrol (Paid Staff)

Course Information

This module presents the academic component of a Level 1 Avalanche course, including all classroom curriculum of the Companion Rescue course (Section 4). By itself, it constitutes an introductory-level course that qualifies as an NSP senior elective for members in divisions where encountering actual avalanche hazard is negligible and meaningful field education is generally unavailable. For divisions having significant avalanche hazard, it constitutes a prerequisite for

the field training and experience provided in Module 2. This module provides basic knowledge of:

• Avalanche nomenclature and classification

• Weather factors that contribute to avalanche problems

• Terrain factors that contribute to avalanche problems

• Snowpack development leading to avalanche problems

• Types and sources of information about avalanche problems

• Basic documentation of hazard data, including field notes

• Human factors that affect decision making

• Hazard evaluation and decision-making procedures and tools

• Personal safety principles and practices

• Principles of companion rescue