Avalanche Level 1 Course with Winter Camping

• Self-Paced Online Learning Module via the American Avalanche Institute
• Live Virtual Seminar with Expert WMG Instructors (the evening before your first field day)
• Three In-Depth Field Days in the Backcountry
• 1 overnight winter camping experience (2 nights)
• Avalanche Level 1 certification upon full completion
• Avalanche beacon, shovel, probe, and backpack (if needed)
• A minimum of 2 students in order for the course to occur
• If you are seeking a private course for more than 4 individuals, please contact us directly

Our field days of backcountry travel will be three consecutive days based in the Provo or Salt Lake area mountains, with overnight camping for 2 nights.

Day 1: We will begin early in the morning with all our gear, hike to our campsite, drop our gear and set up tents, resume our avalanche education, return to the campsite, prepare dinner and discuss winter camping skills. We then tuck in for bed and sleep cozy!

Day 2: We wake up, prepare breakfast, prepare water for the day, set out for further avalanche education, return to camp later afternoon. Then we socialize and enjoy each other’s company for an evening!

Day 3: We wake up, prepare breakfast, prepare water for the day, set out for further avalanche education, return to camp to break down tents, etc., and then ski/hike out before dark. Expect to be at the trailhead no later than 4:30 PM.

We’ll cover an exhaustive set of avalanche preparedness and winter camping skills, including:

• Tour planning
• Snowpack and weather observations and assessment
• Terrain assessment
• Safe travel
• Field observations
• Stability tests and assessment
• Rescue skills and drills
  • Companion rescue
  • Team structure and roles
  • Avalanche response and steps
  • Beacon search
  • Probing techniques
  • Strategic shoveling
  • Plus more
• Winter camping skills:
  • Identifying safe and comfotable camping zones
  • Preparing the ground area for your tent
  • How to get and stay dry, how to dry wet clothing, socks, etc.
  • Cooking in cold environments
  • How to prepare water
  • How to sleep warm and cozy
  • Proper tent ventilation
  • Tips and tricks for waking up in the cold, preparing for a backcounty tour
  • Proper human waste management
  • Plus more!

Once you have paid and registered, you’ll receive access to an expansive online coursecontaining:

• Instructional videos
• Extensive workbook with note outlines
• In-depth online study guide
• Comprehensive quizzes

This digital course was developed by the American Avalanche Institute and is framed around the Backcountry Avalanche Checklist. This Checklist is a systemic and proven approach to comprehensive decision-making in the complex backcountry environment.

The course material can be completed at your leisure but must be completed before your field days. The WMG team will be available to respond to questions via email at all times. Participants can go back and review course material even after the completion of the course, for the duration of the 2023-24 winter season.

As mentioned, the course includes two field days in the backcountry. The evening before your first field day, we’ll meet with with everyone for two hours via video conference to review core curriculum, answer any questions you have, and make sure you’re packed and ready.

Introduction to Backcountry Skiing — before any avalanche course, if you are new to touring. We also have a more in-depth 2-day version of this course called, Backcountry Essentials.

Avalanche Level 1 (this course) — terrain, snowpack, and decision-making. Our Level 1 also runs in the Provo area.

Avalanche Rescue — a full day on rescue alone. No prerequisites, recommended annually, required for Pro 1.

Avalanche Level 2 — the next step in the recreational track.

Backcountry Ski Mentorship — for applying all of it across a season with a guide. Also available as a women’s program.