Winter has definitely arrived and the 4th avalanche course of the season concluded with a very interesting day in the Ravine. Light density snow from the higher summits has accumulated into pencil hard wind slab with varying thickness, all sitting on top of a thick melt-freeze crust from last week’s thaw.
Morning Trip Planning SessionTrailhead Beacon Function CheckUpdating our route options at Hermit LakeSkinning up into the bowlKicking steps up to Right GullyChecking the layering at about 4,400 feetAnother avalanche course heading to Left GullyWrapping up our observations
At the end of the day we got some nice turns in some fresh powder before taking the Sherburne trail back to Pinkham. Couple spots left for next weeks course! http://www.emsclimb.com/aiare1.html
Another weekend, another avalanche course. This time there was a bit more snow so after two days of preliminary classroom and field exercises 5 skiers and 2 motivated snowboarders headed up the Tuck’s trail to learn about traveling in avalanche terrain.
Another course has concluded and an interesting week it has been on the mountain. Despite unseasonable conditions and low snow accumulations there were 2 avalanche accidents in Huntington Ravine last week. Details and pictures can be found here:
Some trip planning at PNVCReviewing the Avalanche Bulletin for the dayRight before Hermit LakeChatting with one of the snow rangersTaking a closer look at the snow...About a 32 degree slope...The view to the eastA mock rescue scenario1-9-2012 Class
Couple spots left in next weeks course: http://www.emsclimb.com/aiare1.html
With great anticipation the 1st avalanche course of the season has come and gone. We had a full course with 12 participants with various backgrounds in skiing, mountaineering, and ice climbing. Despite a slow start to the season and the forecasted areas on Mount Washington being under a “General Advisory” we were able to move through some interesting terrain and see signs of recent loose snow surface slides.
Ascending to the floor of Tuckerman RavineSomeone drop a contact?A quick hand shear test looking for potential slab...Traversing one at a time under “The Chute"Checking out some wet layers near Left Gully
There’s been some cool changes to the curriculum of the AIARE Level 1 Course this season. The “Avalanche’s and Obs” checklist is a great new addition. Any former students are welcome to contact me so I can show you this new tool, it’s in all the new field books. A handy communication checklist helps the group dialogue flow.
Last year saw 9 reported avalanches involving 19 skiers, snowboarders, or technical climbers on or near Mount Washington, including one near fatality. If you haven’t taken an avalanche course yet, or it’s been a few years and you’re in need of a refresher, visit http://www.emsclimb.com/aiare1.html for dates and info to sign up. The first course was filled far in advance, so don’t delay, space is limited.
Yesterday I observed and assisted with a Level 1 Instructor Refresher course at the AMC Highland Center. AIARE requires current instructors partake in an IRC every three years to stay current with changes to the curriculum of AIARE courses and to improve their teaching skills through a facilitated open group discussion on a variety of topics. Tim Brown, an IFMGA guide and contributor to some of the recent changes in the curriculum facilitated the day.
This particular IRC was open to anyone interested in AIARE’s curriculum and mission. With 9 people in attendance we covered a lot of the new updates to the student manual, presentation ideas, new tools empower students with, and ideas about how to take ownership of your course in a professional way. This was a good warmup for me before I head to Silverton, CO in less than a month to observe a full Level 1 Instructor Training course along with a Level 2 IRC. For more information about AIARE please visit http://www.avtraining.org.
Mike Lackman, one of our CT guides and a recent AIARE Level 1 student was in town for a few days of fun, and we decided a trip up into GoS would be a fun day off.
A bluebird day, good snow, and a handful of Milton Academy students combined to make an interesting day on Mount Washington. We covered the basics of uphill travel in Randonee (AT) and Tele ski gear then enjoyed some turns on the way back down (some more than others ;))
Yesterday concluded the last avalanche course of the season. Every course had interesting snow conditions to look at, engaged students, reasonable weather, and some pretty good skiing at the end of the day!
With 5 human triggered avalanches on Mount Washington in March alone, one which resulted if serious life threatening injuries, people are starting to realize there is a need for education before heading into the mountains. While I admire John Muir’s “Throw some doughnuts in a knapsack and hop over the backyard fence” sense of freedom, we owe it to our families and loved ones to put some thought into how much risk we are willing to take (and how to recognize when we are at risk) when traveling in the mountains.
The last class of 2011Some morning classroomOut on our "Observational Outing"Identifying layers in the snowpackRidgetop winds indicating ongoing loading in the start zone...A large crown from a recent natural avalanche spanned the bowl...Discussing our route options...Careful terrain selection up near Hillman's HighwayCrossing the runout one at a time (notice fresh debris)Traversing the lower snowfields...Making a quick weather observation...Practice with Compression Tests and "Hand Hardness" scale
I want to thank everyone who attended an avalanche course with Eastern Mountain Sports Schools this season. I hope to see you out in the mountains applying your newly acquired skills soon!
While we have no more official AIARE courses scheduled for this season we are still running our Backcountry Ski courses which include some good basic “Avalanche Awareness” instruction. Check out http://www.emsski.com for details.
Yesterday brought the conclusion of the 2nd to last Avalanche Course of the season. 6 aspiring mountaineers, skier’s, and climbers spent 3 days in North Conway and surrounding notches learning the basics of traveling in avalanche terrain and backcountry decision making.
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Our last course of the season is March 25th-27th, but it is already full. If you didn’t get into an avalanche course this season check out http://www.avalanche.org for some great online learning tools. And next October/November call us to book early! We’ve had two avalanche accidents on Mount Washington in the last two weeks, and neither of the victims had ever taken an avalanche course.
Knowledge is power, get educated, practice safe travel skills and terrain selection based on the conditions, and climb on!
This winter’s avalanche courses have been excellent as we seem to get some new snow the day before every course! This past weekend’s course was no exception, with over 8 inches landing in North Conway, and much more up on the mountain!
