Avalanche Level 1 for Rescue Personnel @ Smuggler’s Notch VT 2023

AVALANCHE LEVEL ONE — Modules 1, 2 & 3

This class has multiple components. The first component is done online; National Ski Patrol has moved the classroom to your house! After viewing videos, the student is challenged by a knowledge check to be completed before arriving in the ‘classroom.’  Participants can expect a 3-day, mostly hands-on and outdoor program that is both mentally and physically challenging. The class focuses on the remaining components on site.

The Smugglers Notch program involves both lift service and touring. Students are in and around avalanche terrain so that participants can gain a better feeling of what the terrain looks like. The students should come to class with equipment appropriate for going uphill and downhill. Split boards, telemark, and alpine touring equipment work best. This class is notorious for cold weather.

Students can expect to learn the basics of avalanche equipment on the first day of class and should be ready for an informative short ski tour. On the second day, students will start to put things together by focusing on companion rescue and gain a better understanding of snowpack. This is done with a longer tour up route 108 into the Notch. On the last day of class, we do more practice with equipment and snowpack and finish the class with professional rescue methods. This last day of class is typically done at the top of the ski resort; the ski lifts are utilized to get up the mountain. Students need equipment appropriate for an alpine ski area to get off the hill.

The participants will be hard-pressed to find a program with such a high instructor-to-student ratio and professional rescue methods that also meet national standards for this price! Expect to work hard and have fun; be prepared to learn a lot!

The instructors volunteer their time because they love what they do. They come from all walks of life; most of them have strong roots as patrollers; all are outdoor enthusiasts; many are professionals at what they are instructing. So as a participant, you will be able to talk directly with a NOAA forecaster, patrollers who work in avalanche terrain, patrollers who have done avalanche mitigation, and patrollers who work on avalanche forecasting.

Students will be directed to the NSP Store for textbook purchases.  Non-NSP Members will need to make arrangements with the Instructor to obtain all the books.

The full “Avalanche Level 1 for Rescuers” course fee (includes Modules 1, 2, and 3):

1. $450.00 Non-Member Public Admission
2. $300.00 National Ski Patrol Members.

This course requires additional costs for lodging and accommodations during the three-day stay.  Register early; there is a limit of only 12 students.  A waitlist develops every season.  Additional information will arrive by email; your slot in the course is only assured after payment is confirmed.

Registration ends on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, so that students may begin the 14-hour ONLINE Module One component required prior to arrival at Smuggler’s Notch.

If you do not need Module 1 because you attended a classroom session in your local Region, please contact the Instructor of Record for additional information or Email the Avalanche Program Supervisor.  Accommodations are available. However, this course is for rescuers, so you will be expected to attend all three days.  It will help prepare you for the anticipated difficulties encountered in the field exercises.  The Eastern Division Avalanche program often schedules one course that teaches Modules 2 & 3.  Return to the Avalanche page to see the course offerings for the season.