Avalanche Level 2 for Rescue Personnel @ Whiteface NY

4-Day Course

Prerequisite:  Students must have completed Avalanche Level 1 for Professional Rescuer

AVALANCHE LEVEL TWO — Whiteface Mountain provides premier training terrain and continued support for advanced avalanche courses, with ample lift-served backcountry access to avalanche-prone slides. Join us for the next Level 2 Avalanche Course and improve your knowledge and understanding of avalanches and rescue operations. Anyone with aspirations of being an avalanche professional or a patroller in avalanche-prone terrain or who spends a lot of time in the backcountry should sign up now!

The Eastern Division Level 2 Avalanche Course is scheduled for four full days, running Thursday through Sunday at the Atmospheric Science Research Center and Whiteface Mountain, NY. Participants should plan to check into their hotels on Wednesday evening. The purpose of the LEVEL TWO course is to help prepare patrollers and backcountry users for all aspects of avalanche hazards and rescue operations. Along with the Level Two course, we will hold an Avalanche Instructor refresher and the “Avalanche Module” for the Nordic Master certification.

During the first day of the course, participants will complete the first half of the program by attending various presentations by industry professionals, NOAA, and our trained staff of L2 instructors, plus many outdoor exercises, including ski tours. Two evening sessions include trip planning/navigation and a rescue simulator session. The simulator is an indoor mock-up of a rescue problem designed to provide realistic situations and decision-making typically encountered in avalanche rescue operations. The next two days include the outdoor portion of the course in which participants will ski to field exercises, including snowpack and terrain analysis, rescue beacon use, companion, and organized avalanche rescue operations.

Accommodations during the course are still being worked on. They will be in Wilmington, and the evening sessions will be held there. Lunches will be provided at the ASRC on Thursday and Friday, and at a very reasonable price, you can purchase trail lunches for the outdoor sessions. Registration costs for the course for NSP members will be $450 and $550 for non-NSP members.

Prerequisites include an Avalanche Level One course, a Mountain Travel & Rescue Level One course, and ICS 100, 700, & 200 within the last three years. Winter backcountry skiing or split board riding experience, with proper outdoor clothing, along with strong skiing skills, are essential. You must be able to ski/ride the black diamond terrain at Whiteface. Interested participants should understand that outdoor fieldwork is done in a winter mountain environment, which involves physical exertion and sustained exposure to winter elements and hazards. Interested participants with physical or medical restrictions must consider these factors before applying.

Attendance is limited, so sign up early! For information, Email the Avalanche Program Supervisor.

This course requires additional costs for lodging and accommodations during the four-day stay, and it is recommended that all student check in to their hotel by Wednesday morning.  Register early; there is a limit of only ten students.   Additional information will arrive by email; your slot in the course is only assured after payment is confirmed.